Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS) has reached yet another significant milestone with the handover of the full 270,000-square-meter development under Phase 2 of the Tema Port Expansion Project.

This achievement marks the successful completion of the yard extension project, executed by the contractor joint venture De Simone Ltd. and EIFFAGE Génie Civil Marine SA, under the supervision of AECOM, the project management consultants.

Notably, the ceremony also celebrated the attainment of 2.5 million safe man-hours without a single Lost Time Injury (LTI), a remarkable testament to the team’s dedication to safety, discipline, and operational excellence.

In an opening address, Mr. Ernest Lartey, AECOM’s Project Manager commended the entire construction team for their commitment to safety and excellence. “Since the site opened in June 2023, we’ve recorded zero Lost Time Injuries (LTI), a remarkable achievement over 27 months of construction,” he stated.

Mr Gregory Le Roux, The Project Director for the JV, EIFFAGE Génie Civil Marine SA & De Simone Ltd, added that, at its peak, the project employed over 600 Ghanaians, contributing significantly to local job creation and skills development. Mr. Le Roux also praised the team’s collective effort in laying an impressive 13.5 million pavement blocks.

Speaking at the handover, CEO of MPS, Mr. Mohamed Samara, described the milestone as “the greatest birthday gift” of his life, adding 270,000 square meters of cutting-edge terminal space to the already operational 1 million square meters.

Mr Samara expressed profound gratitude to the project teams, contractors, subcontractors, and MPS management for their dedication in delivering “a fabulous investment to our beloved Ghana.”

The expansion includes not only the new yard but also complementary facilities such as a spare parts warehouse, a marine courtyard built by CONSAR Ghana Ltd; all of which complete the terminal’s setup. Additional enhancements, including an export inspection platform, are expected before the end of the year, further boosting the terminal’s technological edge.

With the completion of Phase 2, the terminal’s footprint has expanded to an impressive 1.27 million square meters (127 hectares), entirely reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean, a remarkable feat of modern engineering.

Adding to the occasion, three state-of-the-art KOHLER power plants arrived in country and being commissioned, each powered by 16-cylinder turbocharged, emission-optimized engines capable of generating 4,500 kVA and stepped up to 20,000 volts. These will ensure sustainable power supply for the terminal’s extensive operational needs at both the waterfront and the yard.

In a symbolic gesture, Mr. Lartey handed over the ceremonial key to the MPS Project Team represented by Mr. Abdoul -Rachid Alfa-Traore, MPS Project Manager.

Mr. Alfa-Traore assured the attendees of the project’s enduring quality and safety standards thereafter handed over the symbolic key to the MPS’ Operations Team led by Mr. Mahmoud Ayoub, Chief Operations Officer of MPS.

Mr. Samara further emphasized:

Projects of this magnitude are not built by machines alone, but by the human spirit. This is proof of what can be accomplished when vision meets dedication, when teamwork meets excellence, and when passion meets persistence. With the solid backing of our robust shareholders and our esteemed Board of Directors, MPS is well-positioned to continue driving Ghana’s transformation into a global logistics powerhouse.”

A Promising Economic Outlook

Launched in November 2016, the Tema Port Expansion Project was envisioned to transform Ghana’s maritime landscape by delivering a state-of-the-art container terminal with deep draught berths, equipped with the highest levels of technology, machinery and its attendant supplementary facilities.

Today, Ghana, under the leadership of H.E. John Dramani Mahama, stands at a critical juncture in reviving its economy through the 24-hour economy policy. As strategic trade infrastructure like the Tema Port Expansion Project plays a pivotal role in facilitating economic growth, MPS remains firmly committed to supporting Ghana’s vision of becoming an industrially competitive, export-driven nation.