Ghana has two major seaports: Tema in the Greater Accra Region and Takoradi in the Western Region. Both are commercial deep-water ports in Ghana run by the state-owned Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
Around them sit fishing harbours, a planned port at Keta and an inland port under construction at Boankra. This page lists every one, with port codes, regions and the facts shippers and students ask for most.
How Many Ports Are in Ghana?
Ghana has two deep-sea commercial ports, Tema and Takoradi. It also has fishing harbours at Tema, Jamestown and Elmina, a planned port at Keta and an inland port under construction at Boankra.
| Port or harbour | Region | Type | Status (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tema Port | Greater Accra | Deep-sea commercial port (containers, general and liquid cargo) | Operating since 1962 |
| Takoradi Port | Western | Deep-sea commercial port (bulk exports, oil and gas support) | Operating since 1928 |
| Tema Fishing Harbour | Greater Accra | Fishing harbour | Operating |
| Jamestown Fishing Harbour | Greater Accra (Accra) | Fishing harbour | Commissioned September 2024 |
| Elmina Fishing Port | Central | Fishing harbour | Completed May 2023 |
| Keta Port | Volta | Planned commercial port | Environmental hearing held 2025; no build timeline published |
| Boankra Inland Port | Ashanti | Inland port (dry port) | Under construction; behind schedule |
Ghana’s coastline runs about 539 km (CIA World Factbook), from Aflao on the Togo border to the border with Côte d’Ivoire. Only Tema and Takoradi take ocean-going cargo ships.
What Are the Port Codes for Ghana’s Ports?
Tema’s UN/LOCODE is GHTEM and Takoradi’s is GHTKD. Shippers, carriers and freight forwarders use these five-letter codes on bookings, bills of lading and customs documents.
| Port | UN/LOCODE | Typical use on documents |
|---|---|---|
| Tema | GHTEM | Port of loading or discharge for most container cargo to and from Ghana |
| Takoradi | GHTKD | Bulk exports, mining and oil and gas cargo, Western Region imports |
Accra has no deep-sea port of its own. Cargo for Accra moves through Tema, a short drive east of the capital.
Which Regions of Ghana Have Harbours?
Ghana’s four coastal regions have harbours: Western, Central, Greater Accra and Volta. The commercial ports are in Western (Takoradi) and Greater Accra (Tema); the others are fishing harbours or planned projects.
- Western: Takoradi Port, plus fishing landing sites such as Axim and Dixcove.
- Central: Elmina Fishing Port and landing sites at Moree, Mumford, Winneba, Senya Beraku, Gomoa Fetteh and Ekumfi.
- Greater Accra: Tema Port, Tema Fishing Harbour, Jamestown Fishing Harbour and Teshie.
- Volta: the planned Keta Port and the Keta fishing harbour project.
These towns come from the government’s programme to build or rebuild fishing harbours and landing sites in 12 coastal towns, which the GPHA supervises.
What Is Tema Port?
Tema Port is Ghana’s largest and busiest port, commissioned in 1962 in the Greater Accra Region. It handled about 98% of Ghana’s container traffic in 2024, including Terminal 3, a deep-water container terminal opened in 2019.
- Land area: almost 4 million m², close to half of it reclaimed from the sea.
- Container traffic: 1,668,688 TEU in 2024, out of 1,701,246 TEU for Ghana as a whole (GPHA figures).
- Terminal 3: run by Meridian Port Services (MPS), a joint venture of GPHA (30%), APM Terminals (35%) and Africa Global Logistics (35%).
- Depth: Terminal 3 berths take ships with a draught of up to 16 m.
- Quay: the expansion built 1,000 m of berth with a fourth berth of 400 m, for 1.4 km in total.
Terminal 3 opened in June 2019 after 35 months of construction, in a project valued at about US$1 billion. Phase 2 adds electric cranes and yard equipment, with MPS targeting 3 million TEU of capacity.
For berths, terminals, cargo handling and operations at Tema, see our complete guide to Tema Port.
What Is Takoradi Port?
Takoradi Port is Ghana’s oldest commercial port, opened in 1928 in the Western Region. It specialises in bulk exports such as manganese and bauxite, and it is the main supply base for Ghana’s offshore oil and gas fields.
- Main cargo: manganese, bauxite, clinker, wheat, cocoa, quicklime and project cargo for mining and oil and gas.
- Containers: 32,558 TEU in 2024, under 2% of Ghana’s total.
- Oil and gas: the port has supported offshore operations since the Jubilee field was discovered in 2007.
- Transit trade: it serves cargo for landlocked Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger alongside Tema.
The Atlantic Terminal, a multipurpose container terminal built under a concession with Ibistek, was reported 98% complete in September 2022. Its basin is being dredged to about 16 m so that larger container ships can call.
Tema vs Takoradi: Which Port Handles What?
Tema handles most of Ghana’s containers, imports and transit cargo. Takoradi handles bulk mineral exports and supports the offshore oil and gas industry. Most cargo for Accra, Kumasi and the north moves through Tema.
| Tema | Takoradi | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Greater Accra | Western |
| Opened | 1962 | 1928 |
| UN/LOCODE | GHTEM | GHTKD |
| Main cargo | Containers, general cargo, vehicles, liquid bulk | Manganese, bauxite, clinker, cocoa, oil and gas equipment |
| Containers (2024) | 1,668,688 TEU | 32,558 TEU |
| Deepest berths | 16 m draught (Terminal 3) | About 16 m planned (Atlantic Terminal) |
| Operator | GPHA; MPS at Terminal 3 | GPHA; Ibistek concession at the Atlantic Terminal |
Which Port Should You Ship Through to Ghana?
Ship containers through Tema, which has Ghana’s deep-water container terminal and the most liner services. Use Takoradi for bulk, mining and oil and gas cargo bound for the Western Region.
- Book through a local agent: a ship or port agent handles berth requests, customs paperwork and port clearance.
- Budget for port charges: berth dues, cargo handling and terminal fees make up the port costs, dues and fees on the voyage account.
- Watch free time: containers held past their free days at the terminal or with the consignee attract detention and demurrage charges.
- Plan heavy lifts early: break-bulk and oversize mining or oil and gas units need road permits for the move inland.
Does Ghana Have a Shipyard and Dry Dock?
Yes. The Tema Shipyard next to Tema Port has two graving docks: Dock 1 (277 m by 45 m) takes ships of about 100,000 dwt. Dock 2 (106 m by 13 m) takes tugs and fishing vessels.
The yard offers dry docking, slipway work, lay berths and fitting-out at a 245 m quay. The GPHA has supervised it since 2016.
In March 2025, management reported staff down to 22 from about 270, pumps below capacity and cranes needing repair. A revamp is under discussion.
What Is the History of Ghana’s Ports?
Ghana’s port history begins at Elmina in 1482, when the Portuguese built the castle of São Jorge da Mina as a trading post. Dutch, British, Danish and Swedish traders followed with forts along the Gold Coast.
For centuries ships anchored off open beaches and worked cargo by surf boat. Takoradi opened in 1928 as the country’s first deep-water harbour, and Tema followed in 1962 under President Kwame Nkrumah.
Related Topics
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the name of Ghana’s main seaport?
Ghana’s main seaport is Tema Port, in the Greater Accra Region. It handled about 98% of Ghana’s container traffic in 2024. The second commercial port is Takoradi, in the Western Region.
How many seaports are in Ghana?
Ghana has two deep-sea commercial seaports, Tema and Takoradi, both run by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. It also has fishing harbours at Tema, Jamestown and Elmina, a planned port at Keta and an inland port under construction at Boankra.
What is the port code for Tema?
Tema’s UN/LOCODE is GHTEM. Takoradi’s is GHTKD. Carriers and forwarders use these codes on bookings, bills of lading and customs documents.
Does Accra have a seaport?
Accra has no deep-sea port. Cargo for Accra moves through Tema Port, east of the capital. Jamestown in Accra has a fishing harbour, commissioned in September 2024.
Which is the oldest port in Ghana?
Takoradi is Ghana’s oldest commercial port, opened in 1928. Tema followed in 1962. Before that, ships anchored offshore and worked cargo through surf ports.
Who manages the ports in Ghana?
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), a state-owned body, manages Tema and Takoradi. Terminal 3 at Tema is run by Meridian Port Services, a joint venture of GPHA, APM Terminals and Africa Global Logistics.
Which regions of Ghana have harbours?
Ghana’s four coastal regions have harbours: Western, Central, Greater Accra and Volta. Takoradi is in the Western Region and Tema in Greater Accra; Keta in the Volta Region is a planned port.
What is Boankra Inland Port?
Boankra Inland Port is a dry port under construction near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. It will link Tema and Takoradi to northern Ghana and to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. In April 2026 it was well behind schedule.
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