On Wednesday, 16^th November 2022, Representatives of the Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) presented Excellence Awards to Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS) and to the Chief Executive Officer of MPS, Mr. Mohamed Samara for his sterling leadership in driving innovation and technology in Ghana’s maritime environment.

This gesture was as part of the University’s maiden awards in recognition of MPS’ invaluable contribution to the development of industry, education, and society.

According to the Head of Department for Marketing, Procurement and Logistics, Dr. King David Boison, MPS had distinguished itself in promoting the reputation of Tema Port as a world class port with its exploits.

“Having witnessed what has been achieved from Terminal 2 and subsequently improving it in Terminal 3, the University following due processes selected to award you to acknowledge your commitment to restructuring the cargo clearance process. As a process improvement practitioner I am particularly impressed to hear that you are running with the LEAN management ideology and creating value to the customer by optimizing resources etc“

The Chairman of the Awards Committee, Engr Mark Amoamah while presenting the award said

“You have been chosen not only for your organization’s notable dedication to the educational development of our youth but also crucially, for our institutions’ shared values. Without a doubt, your organization’s demonstration of consistently high standards, commitment to corporate ethics, and transformational innovation pay undoubted credence to your nomination.”

In an acceptance speech for the Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award & Institutional Excellence Award, Mr. Mohamed Samara, the CEO of MPS acknowledged the efforts of the vision bearers and outlined details of the technology deployed in the Terminal.

The whole operational process is digitalised allowing efficiency and convenience. We are not stopping with this; we’ve done a lot with this digitalisation process but without the human being we would have not reached where we are today.

Today we have the know-how and technology and going forward, what we will need to keep this place running into the future is a good supply of manpower and that is where, institutions like the University come in. MPS would like to associate itself with universities so that we can feed each other with knowledge and opportunities for improvement. We want to stay in the lead when it comes to technology and nurturing talent.

He then handed over the Institutional award to the Bram de Jong, the IT Manager of MPS who spearheaded the IT implementation processes for MPS Terminal 3. Mr de Jong praised the Management and IT team for the efforts made to achieve the success.

On his part, the University’s Industrial Liaison Officer, Mr. Ahmed Antwi Boampong commented on the establishment of a productive relationship with MPS.

As university, our goal is to produce the much-needed resource for the industries that we have in Ghana. We look forward to the opportunity to establish a partnership that allows our students to have a better understanding of what happens on the ground in the work environment. This will help them to create a nexus with the theoretical knowledge we teach in the school.

The visitors were then taken through a brief tour of the Operational and IT departments to directly witness the management of operations from the offices.

MPS Technology Drive

MPS has since its advent into Ghana driven the digital agenda by a successful integration of digital technology into all areas of its business activities resulting in fundamental changes to its operations. In the past 3 years, MPS has led the Tema Port in a never experienced transformation of Port Operations and Management. Its highly efficient Container Terminal- MPS Terminal 3 is a sophisticated port facility well-heeled with technology and some of the world’s most advanced equipment, systems, and digital processes.

Award Background

The Institutional Excellence Award is instituted by GCTU’s Institutional Development office to identify and recognize organizations that have distinguished themselves in their various industries while playing a significant role in our nation’s growth and development.