By Evelyn ARTHUR
Ghana’s maritime industry has reached a historic milestone with the arrival of the MSC TÜRKIYE, one of the largest vessels ever to berth at a port in the sub-Saharan region.
This landmark event occurred just one week after the arrival of another ultra-large vessel, the MSC DILETTA, at the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3 at the Port of Tema.
The occasion was graced by dignitaries, including government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and leading business executives.
The Managing Director of MSC Ghana, Garmy Sy, expressed her excitement at the development and reaffirmed the company’s long-standing commitment to Ghana’s maritime growth.
“The arrival of the 24,000 TEU ultra-large container vessels on Africa’s coasts is not just a major achievement for our company, but a testament to our commitment to enhancing trade infrastructure, fostering economic growth across the continent and contributing to local prosperity,” she stated.
Ms. Sy noted that the presence of such vessels represents development, job creation and sustainable growth for Ghana. She added that MSC has been active in Africa for 50 years and in Ghana for 17 years, and “today’s deployment marks the next major step in this journey”.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, reaffirmed the government’s dedication, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, to advancing the maritime sector.
“MPS has become a model of successful partnership in Ghana,” he said. “I urge all government stakeholders to emulate MPS by creating an enabling environment for business growth.”
He further assured the shipping industry and prospective investors that “Ghana possesses the facilities, expertise and human resources necessary to meet all your trade and logistics needs. Under this government, we are determined to transform the overall business climate.”
The Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Brigadier-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, commended the port and marine workforce for safely manoeuvring and berthing the giant vessel.
“This achievement results from the strategic partnership between MPS and the Government of Ghana. The terminal is more than just concrete and steel—it represents jobs created, businesses expanded and countless lives uplifted through faster and more competitive trade. It symbolises Ghana’s readiness to embrace the future,” he said.
Vice President for MSC’s Far East to Sub-Saharan Africa region, Gilbert Capoellini, highlighted the significance of the MSC TÜRKIYE’s deployment, indicating that it stands as a major enhancement for services to West Africa.
“Deployed on the MSC Africa Express Service, the MSC TÜRKIYE connects Asia’s powerhouse economies to West Africa’s emerging economic hubs. This upgraded service charts a course through China, South Korea and Singapore before arriving in West Africa, with Tema proudly standing as her first port of call,” he explained.
Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Port Services Ltd., Mohammed Samara, reflected on the vision laid out nearly a decade ago.
“In 2015, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, we envisioned infrastructure capable of handling ultra-large vessels. Today, that vision is alive as we welcome one of the world’s largest ships,” he said.
“To our trade and industry stakeholders, our motto is: ‘We connect, you thrive’. We are opening access to markets beyond Ghana—from Angola to Mauritania—with greater efficiency. Our design criteria is focused on durability and scalability for the next hundred years, cutting transit times from Asia to Tema from 40–50 days to under 20 days,” he concluded.
