GPHA honours industry partners, former management at 40th anniversary awards

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a series of recognitions for industry partners, former management, and notable contributors during its awards dinner. The event honored a range of entities and individuals for their significant roles in the growth of the Authority and Ghana's maritime industry.

Categories of awards included shipping lines and agents based on cargo volumes, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) operations, dry bulk cargo handling, container traffic measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), outstanding customer service, and top transit customers. Additionally, the ceremony acknowledged former Directors-General, directors of the Tema and Takoradi ports, union chairmen, pioneering female professionals, and long-serving staff.

GPHA's Director-General, Major-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, emphasized during his opening remarks that the anniversary celebration highlighted the essential contributions of individuals and organizations whose leadership and dedication shaped the Authority. He expressed gratitude to past leaders and employees, as well as various industry partners, for their essential roles in GPHA's development.

Board Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia highlighted the importance of commitment, professionalism, innovation, and partnership in the industry's growth. He stressed that the future competitiveness of GPHA depended on embracing innovation, improving operational efficiency, maintaining good governance, and delivering value to customers and stakeholders.

The keynote address was delivered by Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, who outlined six priorities for the sector: enhancing port efficiency and service excellence, advancing digitalization and innovation, promoting multimodal connectivity, ensuring sustainability and safety, developing the workforce, and fostering regional trade and integration.

He stressed that achieving these goals required ongoing collaboration among government, GPHA, private-sector operators, customers, and stakeholders across the transport and logistics value chain. Nikpe congratulated the award recipients and urged the industry to sustain the Authority's achievements through stronger partnerships, improved services, and continued investment in people and technology.