Mahama Reveals Seven Firms in Running to Develop Long-Awaited Keta Port

Seven companies are now in contention to partner the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in developing the long-proposed Keta Port in the Volta Region, President John Mahama has announced. The shortlisting marks a significant step forward for a project that has been discussed for decades but has repeatedly stalled, raising hopes among residents and business communities in the Volta Region that construction could finally become a reality.

What we know about the shortlisting

According to President Mahama, the seven firms have been identified as potential private sector partners for the GPHA in what is expected to be a public-private partnership arrangement. The shortlisting process suggests that due diligence and an initial screening of interested investors have already taken place, narrowing the field to serious contenders. The next stages are expected to involve more detailed evaluations, negotiations, and eventually the selection of a preferred partner or consortium to drive the project forward.

The Keta Port, if developed, would be situated along Ghana's southeastern coastline in the Volta Region. Its location is strategically important — placing it closer to landlocked neighbours and offering an alternative gateway for trade that could ease pressure on the Tema Port, which currently handles the overwhelming bulk of Ghana's maritime cargo.

Why it matters for Ghana

The case for a Keta Port has long been made on both economic and regional equity grounds. The Volta Region has historically lagged behind other parts of the country in terms of infrastructure investment, and a functioning deep-water port in the area could be transformative. It would create direct employment during construction and operations, stimulate ancillary industries such as fishing, logistics and warehousing, and open up trade corridors that are currently underserved.

From a national perspective, Ghana's over-reliance on the Tema Port creates bottlenecks that add costs to imports and exports alike. A second major port on the eastern corridor would not only decentralise cargo handling but could also position Ghana more competitively as a transit hub for goods heading to Togo, Benin, and beyond into the Sahel. Countries such as Burkina Faso and Niger — despite their current political challenges — remain significant markets for goods passing through Ghanaian ports.

There is also a broader strategic dimension. As regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) grows, Ghana has an opportunity to deepen its role as a logistics and trade hub for West Africa. Expanding port infrastructure is central to that ambition, and Keta could play a meaningful part in that vision.

A project with a long history

The Keta Port proposal is not new. It has featured in various government development plans over the years, with successive administrations expressing commitment to its development before momentum faded. Communities in the Volta Region have grown accustomed to announcements that do not translate into action, making many cautious about celebrating too early.

However, reaching the stage of shortlisting multiple international and local firms does represent a more concrete procedural milestone than many previous announcements. If the selection process proceeds transparently and efficiently, Ghana could be closer than ever to breaking ground on a facility that the region has awaited for generations.

• Observers will be watching to see whether environmental impact assessments and community consultations are properly conducted, given that the Keta coastline is an ecologically sensitive area that has also suffered significant erosion over the years.
• The financing model — whether fully private, government-backed, or blended — will also be crucial in determining how quickly the project can move from selection to actual construction.

For now, the shortlisting of seven companies signals that the Mahama administration is treating the Keta Port as a priority infrastructure project, and Ghanaians — particularly those in the Volta Region — will be hoping this time the announcement leads somewhere lasting.