A growing container congestion crisis in Tema is threatening the livelihoods of truck drivers, disrupting transport operations, and creating traffic challenges across parts of the metropolis, with stakeholders calling for urgent intervention from government and port authorities before the situation spirals out of control.
The concerns were raised after a tour of affected areas in Tema, where dozens of trucks carrying empty containers were found parked along the Sakumono Beach Road and adjoining routes, causing significant traffic congestion and inconvenience to motorists and residents.
Speaking to the media at his office in Tema after the tour, the Chief Executive Officer of AF Lucky 3 Company Limited, Mr. Fiifi Agyekum, warned that the situation has reached alarming levels and is imposing huge financial losses on transport operators and drivers.
“The situation is getting worse and worse,” he said, expressing frustration over persistent delays in the handling of empty containers despite transporters fulfilling their obligations.
According to Mr. Fiifi, truck operators continue to bear the financial burden of prolonged delays while shipping lines and other stakeholders face little accountability.
“You delay my truck for three days, you are not paying me anything. Now I delay your container for one day, you ask me to pay,” he lamented, describing what he sees as an unfair system that places transport operators at a disadvantage.
Industry sources familiar with operations at the Tema Port told GoldNews that one of the major causes of the congestion is the lack of available space within Tema for the discharge of empty containers. The source indicated that facilities designated to receive the containers are overwhelmed, resulting in long queues of trucks waiting to offload.
The situation has left scores of trucks stranded for days, with many drivers unable to return to work and earn income.
Mr. Fiifi revealed that about 30 trucks belonging to his company are currently stuck because of the congestion, affecting operations and leaving dozens of workers without productive work.
The impact is also being felt by drivers, many of whom shared heartbreaking accounts of the financial hardship caused by the delays.
Several drivers told the media that they have exhausted the money they carried for their trips and are struggling to support their families.
“We have spent all the money we came with. Some of us have been here for days waiting to offload. We can’t even send money home to our wives and children,” one driver said.
Another driver described the situation as unbearable, saying every additional day spent in the queue translates into lost income and increased expenses.
“We are not working, yet we are spending money on food and other necessities. Our trucks are parked and we are losing business every day,” he explained.
Mr. Fiifi said the human cost of the crisis should not be ignored.
“How is he going to survive? How is his family going to survive?” he asked, referring to drivers who depend on daily trips to earn a living.
Beyond the economic hardship, the congestion is creating public safety and traffic management concerns. A visit to the Sakumono Beach Road revealed long stretches of trucks occupying portions of the roadway, slowing traffic movement and creating bottlenecks for commuters.
Residents and motorists have expressed concern that the situation could worsen if immediate steps are not taken to clear the backlog of containers and restore normal operations.
According to Mr. Fiifi, repeated engagements with facility operators and stakeholders have yielded little progress.
“Every time we ask questions, we are told there are processes ongoing and that action will be taken, but the problem keeps returning,” he said.
The company believed to be responsible for receiving a significant portion of the empty containers, Mediterranean Shipping Company , declined to comment on the matter. Efforts by this reporter to obtain the company’s response were unsuccessful after officials at its office failed to provide answers regarding the congestion and delays.
With frustration mounting among transport operators, calls are growing for urgent intervention by the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), shipping lines, and other relevant agencies to address the crisis.
Stakeholders warn that failure to act swiftly could have serious implications for port efficiency, supply chain operations, road safety, and the livelihoods of hundreds of drivers and transport workers who depend on the smooth movement of cargo through Ghana’s largest seaport.
Mr. Fiifi cautioned that if the situation continues unchecked, transport operators may be forced to consider further actions to protect their businesses and workers.
“We cannot continue losing money and losing our clients. Something has to be done, and it has to be done quickly,” he stressed.
As the backlog of empty containers continues to grow and trucks remain stranded on major roads, pressure is mounting on authorities to implement immediate and lasting solutions to prevent the crisis from escalating into a major threat to Tema’s logistics and transport sector.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
