Keta Port Moves Closer to Reality as Mahama Narrows Field to Seven Shortlisted Developers

The long-delayed dream of a fully functioning seaport at Keta has taken a significant step forward, with President John Mahama announcing that seven companies have been shortlisted from an original pool of 47 to become strategic development partners for the Keta Port project. The announcement was made at the 2026 Hogbetsotso Festival, one of the most important cultural celebrations in the Volta Region, where the President also outlined a broad package of infrastructure, health and education commitments for the area.

From 47 expressions of interest to a final shortlist

According to President Mahama, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) received expressions of interest from 47 companies eager to partner in developing the Keta Port. Following a rigorous due diligence process, that number has been trimmed to seven firms, which will now move into the next critical phase of the project.

"Due diligence has been conducted, and the list has been shortlisted to seven companies. These seven companies are proceeding to the next stage, which involves completing the designs and arranging the financing for the project to commence," President Mahama stated.

The President also confirmed that the administration block for the port — construction of which began under the previous administration — is on course to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027. He emphasised that the government intends to advance the project on what he described as a "credible foundation," signalling a cautious but determined approach to avoiding the false starts that have plagued the project for decades.

Why it matters for Ghana

The Keta Port has been part of Ghana's national development conversation for many years. The Volta Region, despite sitting along the coast and bordering Togo, has historically lacked the kind of major port infrastructure that could unlock its economic potential. A functioning deep-water port at Keta would open up trade routes, ease pressure on the Tema Port — which handles the overwhelming bulk of Ghana's maritime cargo — and create direct employment opportunities for communities along the southeastern coastline.

For Ghanaians in the Volta Region particularly, the port represents far more than a piece of infrastructure. It is seen as a catalyst that could attract investment, support the fishing industry, and position the region as a viable logistics hub linking Ghana to neighbouring Togo and beyond within the ECOWAS corridor. The involvement of seven serious international contenders underscores the commercial appetite for such a project when structured properly.

The move to the design and financing stage is particularly meaningful. Many large Ghanaian infrastructure projects have stalled at the concept or expression-of-interest level, never reaching the point where actual construction financing is secured. Getting to binding designs and financial close would represent a qualitatively different level of commitment.

Broader development pledges for the Volta Region

Beyond the port, President Mahama used the Hogbetsotso platform to announce a range of other projects targeted at the Volta Region:

• Water supply: The Sogakope-Agodome-Keta Water Project, which stalled following Ghana's debt restructuring under the previous administration, is set to resume after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with contractors in October to return them to site.
• Roads: The Ho-Denu Road is expected to be completed in 2027, while procurement processes are underway for the Miotso-to-Aflao road reconstruction and the Dabala-Savietula-Keta-Denu Highway. Several roads in the Anlo area have also been captured under the World Bank Feeder Roads Project.
• Healthcare: Discussions are ongoing with South Korea regarding the resumption of financing for the upgrade of the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho, with the aim of making it fit for teaching hospital status.
• Education: Land has been secured for a new School of Pharmacy under the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), and the President pledged support for dormitory and classroom infrastructure at several senior high schools in the region.
• Markets: The Anloga 24-hour market project is on track, and a US$30 million Chinese government grant is expected to fund the Aflao Ashigame market once a technical team confirms designs on the ground.

President Mahama urged the Volta Regional Coordinating Council to actively monitor all these projects to ensure timely delivery — an acknowledgement that announcement and execution remain two very different things in Ghana's development landscape.