Ghana is positioning itself as a major hub for ship repair and maintenance services in West Africa, with a US$137 million facility set to begin construction at the Port of Takoradi on Tuesday, November 10.
The facility, being developed under Project Shiprite, is expected to create up to 430 direct jobs and provide modern dry-docking and vessel repair services to ships operating along the Gulf of Guinea and other parts of the region.
The investment is expected to reduce the reliance of vessels on shipyards located far from their operating routes, helping to cut repair-related travel time, fuel consumption and emissions.
President John Dramani Mahama is expected to attend the ceremony marking the project’s financial close and the commencement of construction. The event will also bring together the Minister of Transport, officials of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), investors, financiers and other project partners.
Project Shiprite is being undertaken by Prime Meridian Docks Ghana Limited (PMD) under a 25-year concession agreement with the GPHA.
The facility is expected to serve commercial vessels operating along the West African coast and beyond, while creating business opportunities for local technicians, contractors, suppliers and other players in Ghana’s maritime sector.
The Director-General of the GPHA, Major General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, said the investment aligned with the authority’s strategy to expand Ghana’s maritime market and attract businesses involved in ship repair and maintenance.
He expressed confidence that the project would enhance Takoradi’s capacity to provide specialised maritime services and strengthen its position as a regional destination for the industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of PMD Ghana Limited, Stanley Ahorlu, said reaching financial close was the result of several years of work involving the company and its partners.
He said the immediate focus was to construct a reliable repair facility, build local technical capacity and ensure that Ghanaian businesses benefited from the investment.
The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr Christian Rogg, described the project as a significant example of the investment objectives of the UK-Ghana Growth Partnership.
“When we launched the Growth Partnership in London, we set out a shared ambition to unlock investment and grow together. Shiprite is a powerful expression of that ambition and of the confidence we share in Ghana’s economic future,” he said.
Project Shiprite was identified as a flagship maritime investment when Ghana and the United Kingdom signed the Growth Partnership in June 2026.
The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), through its InfraCo arm, is among the international partners supporting the project.
Its Chief Investment and Project Development Officer, Gilles Vaes, said the facility would deliver economic benefits to Ghana and neighbouring countries while reducing the time and emissions associated with vessels travelling long distances for repair services.
When completed, the project is expected to strengthen Ghana’s maritime infrastructure, create employment and position the country to attract a greater share of the ship repair business along the Gulf of Guinea.
