GPHA honours industry players, former leaders and staff at 40th anniversary awards

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has honoured shipping lines, shipping agents, cargo customers, staff and former leaders for their contributions to the growth of the Authority and Ghana's maritime industry.

The awards dinner, held as part of activities marking GPHA's 40th anniversary, recognised industry players for their performance in cargo handling and customer service, as well as individuals whose leadership and long service helped shape the Authority.

Awards were presented to shipping lines and agents based on cargo volumes, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) operations, dry bulk cargo volumes and container traffic measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

Other categories included outstanding customer service and top transit customers.

The ceremony also honoured past Directors-General, former directors of the Tema and Takoradi ports, union chairmen, pioneering female professionals and long-serving staff.

Director-General of GPHA, Major-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, said the 40th anniversary presented an opportunity to acknowledge individuals and organisations whose leadership, dedication and partnerships had contributed to the Authority's development.

He expressed appreciation to past leaders and employees, as well as shipping lines, terminal operators, freight forwarders, transport operators, customers and other industry partners for their role in advancing Ghana's ports.

Board Chairman of GPHA, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said the awards celebrated commitment, professionalism, innovation and partnerships that had contributed to the growth of the Authority and the wider maritime sector.

He said maintaining the competitiveness of Ghana's ports would require the Authority to embrace innovation, improve operational efficiency, uphold good governance and deliver value to customers and other stakeholders.

The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, called for greater port efficiency, digitalisation and stronger integration between ports, roads, railways and logistics centres to position Ghana as a leading trade and logistics gateway in West Africa.

Delivering the keynote address, he outlined six priorities for the transport sector: port efficiency and service excellence; digitalisation and innovation; multimodal connectivity; sustainability and safety; workforce development; and regional trade and integration.

Mr Nikpe said achieving these objectives would require sustained collaboration among the government, GPHA, private-sector operators, customers and other stakeholders across the transport and logistics value chain.

He congratulated the award recipients and urged the industry to build on GPHA's achievements through stronger partnerships, improved services and continued investment in people and technology.

The event formed part of activities commemorating four decades of GPHA's institutional growth, industry collaboration and contribution to Ghana's trade and economic development.