Port of Takoradi: Ghana’s Trade, Oil and Gas Gateway

Stories and facts

The Port of Takoradi is one of Ghana’s most important economic assets and a major gateway for international trade. Located in the Western Region, about 225 kilometres west of Accra, it was opened in 1928 as Ghana’s first deep-water harbour and has since grown into a central link between Ghana and the wider world.

Takoradi Port was built to replace the older surf ports, where cargo had to be transferred between ships and shore by boats. Its deep-water harbour allowed larger vessels to dock safely and move goods more efficiently.

The port handles a wide range of cargo, including cocoa, manganese, bauxite, timber, clinker, wheat and equipment for mining and oil operations. It is also a key export route for goods produced in Ghana’s western and northern regions.

Takoradi’s location on the Gulf of Guinea gives it an advantage beyond Ghana. It provides a practical trade route for landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, helping them access markets in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

For many businesses, the port is more than a loading point. It is part of a supply chain that connects mines, farms, factories, warehouses and overseas markets.

For decades, Takoradi was known mainly for exporting raw materials such as cocoa, timber, manganese and bauxite. That role changed after Ghana discovered oil in commercial quantities offshore in 2007.

The port became a major logistics base for offshore exploration and production. Supply vessels, equipment, fuel, spare parts and specialist services now move through Takoradi to support oil and gas activity in Ghanaian waters and beyond.

The construction of an Oil and Gas Services Terminal strengthened this position. The facility includes serviced land, storage areas, workshops, offices and berths for offshore supply vessels, making the port better equipped to support the industry.

Takoradi Port has continued to modernise. Recent investments have expanded its capacity to handle containers, dry bulk cargo and larger vessels, while dredging has improved access for deeper-draft ships.

These developments reflect a broader effort to turn the port into a stronger oil, gas and bulk-cargo hub for West Africa. The goal is not only to move more cargo, but also to improve efficiency, attract investment and support jobs in the region.

Takoradi Port represents more than cargo and cranes. It is a place where Ghana’s agricultural, mining and industrial sectors meet international markets, and where local workers, shipping companies, traders and offshore operators depend on one another.

Despite disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the port has remained central to Ghana’s economy. It continues to connect the country to the world while supporting trade across West Africa.

Takoradi Port is therefore a working symbol of Ghana’s trade history, its industrial ambitions and its growing role in the economy of West Africa.

Below is a video of the drive-through of the port