Cement manufacturers in Ghana have raised the alarm over impending price hikes due to persistent congestion at the nation’s ports, which is severely delaying the discharge of clinker a vital raw material used in cement production.
Industry stakeholders warn that escalating demurrage fees, with ships now forced to wait as long as 20 days before berthing, are creating unsustainable financial pressures that could soon be passed on to consumers unless swift interventions are made.
The matter was the focus of an emergency stakeholder meeting held on Monday, February 23, 2026, organised by the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, together with the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe.
Attendees included representatives from cement producers and other key players in the sector, who gathered to tackle the operational bottlenecks that have left clinker consignments stuck at the ports for two to three weeks, inflicting heavy financial losses.
Bishop Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana (COCMAG), described the current situation as “dire.” He stated that the industry is “leaking financially” because of the accumulating demurrage costs.
He cautioned that if vessel waiting times remain prolonged, production expenses will rise further, making higher cement prices in the local market almost inevitable.
Mr. Nikpe reassured participants that the government is fast-tracking dredging operations to increase berth capacity and enable the handling of larger vessels.
“Upon completion of the dredging by the end of June, the port will be able to accommodate vessels exceeding 20,000 tonnes compared with the present limit of 8,000 tonnes substantially easing congestion and reducing waiting periods,” he explained. He added that partial improvements should begin within the next one to two weeks as work around Berth 14 is completed.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare highlighted that inefficiencies at the ports directly inflate production costs, which in turn feed into elevated cement prices for end users. “If we are serious about keeping prices affordable, we must all play our role to ensure that production remains cost-efficient,” she remarked.
Kofi Nsiah-Poku, President of the Association of Ghana Industries, commended the Ministers for their prompt engagement but warned that, until the dredging project and temporary relief measures are fully operational, ongoing port congestion is likely to continue exerting upward pressure on cement prices for consumers.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
