Meridian Port Services Limited (MPS) and EIFFAGE Génie Civil have reached an agreement to
extend the original FIDIC Yellow Book Contract to include land works for the fourth new berth
of the MPS Terminal 3—which is part of Phase 2 of the Tema Port Expansion Project.
Over the past two years, EIFFAGE has devoted its effort to complete Phase 1 of the Tema Port
Expansion Project and has successfully laid 41.5 million pavement blocks on the first 98 of the
127 Hectares on land reclaimed from the sea. The works included drainage, waste-water
treatment plant, water & fire hydrants, electrical and IT fibre networks, 1400 reefer container
plugs and a 12 MW back-up power plant.
The marine works for Phase 2 were completed back in July 2020 by China Harbour Engineering
Company (CHEC) 2 years ahead of schedule and the land civil works FOR THE 4 TH New Berth are
set to be completed in September 2021 which is 9 months ahead of the MPS contractual commitment.
During the contract exchange meeting, the Contract Manager of EIFFAGE, Mr. Mohammed
Juma, revealed that the contract extension entails building the yard from the reclaimed land
level by the marine contractors to the final pavement including the formation of pavement
layers with all the required data-networking, electrical, drainage, lighting and mechanical
services etc.
The land works covers 4.2 ha right at the terminal’s waterfront (400m along the quay wall by
105m deep into the yard) stretching the MPS Terminal 3 quayside to 1,400m at dredged level of
-16.90 m CD which will make the 4 th New Berth fully operational (400m long).
Upon successful completion, the estimated total annual handling capacity of the MPS Terminal
3 will be in the range of 2.5 million TEUs where the actual volume handled in 2020 is in the
range of 1.2 million TEUs.
Boosts terminal capacity for transhipment
Transhipment remains a key goal for ports in the region as West Africa still lacks a well-
developed transhipment hub. MPS Terminal 3 of Tema Port has on this premise raised the bar
to cater for this need.
With improved handling capacity and a comparative advantage with the world-renowned
transhipment hubs; MPS continues to put Ghana on the map in the maritime sector thus
making a strong case for recognition as the hub of West Africa.
“This state-of-the-art terminal and its enhanced capacity are purposely aimed at catering for
the anticipated volumes increase that will come in as more shipping lines realise the added
value that MPS Terminal 3 contribute to their market range and share of the West African trade
volume,” said Mr. Mohamed Samara, MPS’ Chief Executive Officer.
The container shipping industry is rapidly transforming, and it takes those who are keen on
staying ahead to respond to this evolution and realise how much they can harness from what is
developing around them. Ghana and the industrial port city of Tema presents huge potential
for growth in the maritime sector as it is poised to attract more business as general trade and
industry picks up in the country.
Readies for AfCFTA take off
From the onset, MPS has invested in Ghana’s economic growth and connectivity to the world
and for many years to come with obvious knock-on effect on the region’s economy. The new
port facility is taking Ghana’s leadership one step further and positions it as an economic power
and a leading economy in Africa, scaling up growth and employment in Ghana as well as within
the whole Western African region.
Come next year in January 2021 when trading officially begins on the AfCFTA platform, Ghana is
already ready in the area of logistics and specifically port infrastructure. The added capacity
that will be present by the completion of the 4 th New Berth during the 2 nd half of 2021, a year
ahead of schedule, will further boost Tema Port’s capabilities to contribute to the success of
AfCFTA.
Being one of the strongest emerging economies in West Africa (2 nd largest) with a sturdy growth
rate and burgeoning youthful population, many industrial companies have taken advantage and
started to set up shop in Ghana to prepare for their penetration into the wider African market.
This is bound to be a game changer for the model maritime nation.
