Cement prices may increase in the coming weeks as prolonged congestion at Ghana’s ports continues to delay the discharge of clinker, a key raw material in cement production.
The looming risk of price hikes dominated an emergency meeting held on Monday, February 23, 2026, convened by the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, in collaboration with the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe.
The meeting brought together cement manufacturers and major industry stakeholders to address operational bottlenecks that have left clinker shipments stranded at the harbour for between two and three weeks.
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana (COCMAG), Bishop Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, described the situation as critical, warning that mounting demurrage charges are causing significant financial strain on the industry.
According to industry players, vessels are waiting between 13 and 20 days to secure berthing space, sharply increasing operational costs that could ultimately be transferred to consumers through higher cement prices.
Manufacturers cautioned that the longer ships remain offshore awaiting clearance, the greater the financial burden, placing sustained upward pressure on domestic cement costs.
While stakeholders acknowledged ongoing dredging works at the port, they called for immediate interim solutions. Proposed measures include temporary access to additional berths and redirecting non-dust producing materials such as gypsum and slag to alternative berthing points to ease congestion.
Mr. Nikpe assured participants that dredging works are being expedited and are expected to be completed by the end of June. Once finished, the port will be able to accommodate vessels exceeding 20,000 tonnes—up from the current 8,000-tonne capacity—significantly reducing turnaround times.
Until those upgrades are finalized, however, stakeholders warn that persistent congestion and escalating demurrage costs could trigger imminent cement price increases, with consumers likely to feel the impact.
