President John Dramani Mahama has assured residents of the Volta Region that the long awaited Keta Port project is progressing steadily, with key approvals completed and investors showing strong interest in participating in its development.
Speaking at a Citizen Engagement session at Ho Technical University as part of his two day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Volta Region, President Mahama said the project has moved beyond earlier planning stages and is now receiving the necessary technical, environmental, and investment attention required for implementation.
“With regards to the Keta Port, the Minister has given us the brief. The feasibility study and design have been endorsed. It was brought to Cabinet. The environmental impact assessment has been approved, and EPA is giving all the approvals for the project to go along.”
The President’s comments come as preparations continue for the establishment of Ghana’s third commercial seaport, which is planned for the coastal community of Kedzi in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region.
Project Advances after Years of Planning
The Keta Port project has been identified as a major infrastructure initiative aimed at expanding Ghana’s maritime capacity and improving trade connections within the country and the wider West African region.
President Mahama acknowledged concerns over previous infrastructure projects where preparatory structures were completed without the main facilities being delivered. He cited the example of the Boankra Inland Port project, where administrative facilities were built before the port itself was constructed.
However, the President said the government is determined to avoid repeating such experiences and is confident that the Keta Port will move from preparation to full development. “But we are confident that this time we are on track to deliver the Keta port,” he added.
The project has recently progressed through important regulatory and procurement stages. The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment certificate, removing a major requirement for construction activities to proceed.
Following the environmental approval, significant interest has emerged from construction firms seeking involvement in the project. The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority has received bids from local and international companies and is conducting an evaluation process to identify suitable contractors.
Strategic Investors Express Interest in Port Project
President Mahama said the government has received proposals from several strategic investors interested in partnering on the Keta Port development. “We are praising the proposals of strategic investors. Several people, more than 20 investors, have come who have expressed interest in joining us to do the Keta port,” he said.
The project is expected to require substantial investment, with the first phase estimated to cost about $600 million. The initial development will involve major marine engineering works, including dredging, land reclamation, and construction of protective structures to establish the port facility.
Once completed, the port is expected to handle containerised cargo, bulk goods, and oil and gas related shipments. Initial capacity projections indicate that the facility could process between 500,000 and 800,000 Twenty foot Equivalent Units annually.
The port is also expected to support Ghana’s position as a regional trade hub by providing an additional maritime gateway for landlocked countries, particularly Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Rail Extension to Connect Keta with National Transport Network
Beyond the port itself, President Mahama emphasised the importance of connecting Keta to Ghana’s wider transport infrastructure. He said government plans to extend existing railway lines to ensure that goods arriving at the port can move efficiently to other parts of the country and beyond.
One major component of the plan is the extension of the Tema-Akosombo railway line to Dawa and eventually to Keta. “One of the recommendations is that we are going to extend the rail line, the Tema Akosombo line. We are going to extend it to Dawa,” he explained.
President Mahama said the Dawa Industrial Area, located along the route into the Volta Region, would benefit from the railway expansion and become part of the broader economic corridor.
He added that the rail connection would allow containers arriving at Keta to move directly to major commercial centres: “So that any containers that are offloaded in Keta can be put on the train and go straight towards Tema and Accra.”
Port Expected to Transform Regional Trade
The Keta Port is designed to complement Ghana’s existing ports at Tema and Takoradi rather than compete with them. Officials have indicated that the facility will help reduce pressure on existing maritime gateways while creating new opportunities for trade along the Eastern Corridor.
The project is also expected to connect with road and future railway networks linking Ghana to neighbouring countries, strengthening cross border commerce and improving access to international markets.
Beyond trade and logistics, the port is expected to generate employment opportunities in the Volta Region. Stakeholder discussions around the project have included plans to equip local youth with technical skills needed during construction and future operations.
President Mahama said the combination of port infrastructure, railway expansion, industrial development, and investment partnerships would position the Keta area as a significant economic centre.
As preparations continue, the government is focusing on completing the necessary processes to ensure the project moves forward with private sector participation and long term economic benefits for the region and the country.