Port visit highlights importance of infrastructure investment to remain competitive

Maintaining African connectivity

GHANA: Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS) welcomed Diarra Dimé-Labille, Ambassador of France to Ghana, and a high-level delegation from the Embassy of France in Accra to Tema Port, in a visit that provided an opportunity to showcase MPS’s terminal infrastructure, technology, operational efficiencies and growing contribution to Ghana’s economic and trade ambitions.

CEO of MPS, Mohamed Samara highlighted the importance of sustained investment in modern port infrastructure, equipment, digitalisation and operational systems has transformed the capacity and capabilities of Tema Port.

“MPS is proud to be playing a strategic role in Ghana’s economic transformation. We continue to invest in modern infrastructure and innovative solutions that not only improve the efficiency of supply chains but also reinforce Tema Port’s position as a world-class gateway, delivering long-term benefits to businesses, communities and the broader economy,” he said.

Recognising the importance of remaining competitiveness, Samara emphasised the importance of strengthening African connectivity.

“For us, maintaining leadership is not an option, it is a necessity. While Ghana and MPS took a bold leap into the future with the expansion of the Port of Tema, other ports across the region are investing aggressively and catching up. To remain ahead, we must continue to expand capacity, improve efficiency, and strengthen connectivity across Africa.”

The CEO also highlighted the opportunity presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the critical role that efficient transport and logistics infrastructure must play in turning the vision of a single African market into reality.

“The real value of AfCFTA will only be realised if we build the logistics, transport and trade infrastructure that enables goods to move seamlessly across borders.”

Following the presentation, the Ambassador and her delegation, which included  Rafael Pont, Deputy Head of Mission; Julien Frioux, Economic Counsellor; Colonel Grégoire Madelin, Defence, Attaché; Captain Nicolas Gongora, Police Attaché; and Clara Marcelli, Deputy Economic Counsellor, embarked on a guided tour of the terminal.

The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to get a first-hand experience of how the technology, people and infrastructure come together to operate a modern container terminal. It included a tour of the Planning and Control Room,

The visit began at the Planning and Control Room, where the delegation interacted with the MPS Terminal Operating System (TOS) team and observed how vessel and terminal activities are monitored, coordinated and optimised in real time.

A particular highlight of the visit was the opportunity to experience vessel operations from one of MPS’s advanced Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes. The delegation was welcomed into the crane operator’s cabin, offering a unique perspective of the scale, precision and coordination required to handle some of the world’s largest container vessels.

MPS is also continuing to invest in equipment and electrification, with three additional STS cranes and 16 electric RTGs added in 2026, alongside further investments in electric terminal trucks and other technologies aimed at strengthening capacity, resilience and sustainability.

The delegation was received by MPS Senior Management Team, led by CEO Mohamed Samara, CFO Steen Larsen, Head of Legal and Compliance Frank Ebo Brown, COO Mahmoud Ayoub, the Head of Stakeholder Management Charles Osafo and Nancy Amoussa the AGL Finance Director.

Building the gateway for Africa’s future

The visit comes at an important time for Ghana–France economic relations, with growing opportunities for stronger trade, investment and commercial partnerships between the two countries.

For MPS, the visit reinforced a central principle: world-class ports are not built through infrastructure alone. They require continuous investment in technology, people, capacity, connectivity and innovation.

The focus of the visit was for discussions on MPS’s operations, investment programme, technology deployment and the strategic role of Tema Port as a maritime gateway for Ghana and the wider West African region.

As trade across Ghana and the wider West African region continues to grow, MPS remains committed to investing ahead of demand, strengthening Tema Port’s competitiveness and supporting Ghana’s ambition to become a leading trade and logistics hub for Africa.

The future of African trade will depend on the ability to move goods faster, smarter and more efficiently across borders.

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