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[Ferro-Alloys.com] We cannot continue to transport manganese ore by road – Director of Takoradi port
The Director of the Port of Takoradi at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Capt. James Richmond Quayson, has called for an end to the road haulage of manganese ore, urging strategic investment in rail transportation instead.
He emphasized that such investment should connect mining regions to the port in a way that optimizes port capacity and operational efficiency.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony for the MV CSB Years—the largest bulk carrier ever to dock in any West African port—at the Port of Takoradi on Tuesday, Capt. Quayson stated that modern marine and mineral logistics have long moved beyond transporting ore by road.
“The cargo must come by rail. We cannot continue to ship ore by road,” he insisted. “I have travelled widely and have seen ore transported by rail, not road. Rail is the standard everywhere; road haulage is no longer acceptable.”
Capt. Quayson also revealed that several investors have approached GPHA to discuss financing the Western Rail Line, with a focus on linking mining areas directly to the Port of Takoradi.
“They want to link up the port, the Western rail lines to the mines such that the cargo will come by rail,” he noted.
On behalf of the Ghana Manganese Company Limited, Deputy Managing Director Sun Yuanwei expressed interest in developing rail infrastructure linking Takoradi Port to mining zones. He also confirmed the company’s intention to invest in a local refinery to add value to manganese ore within Ghana.
“Plans and development are underway for the establishment of a $450 million manganese refinery plant in the Tarkwa enclave of our mines near Nsuta to create jobs, more revenues, and to improve the socio-economic development of Ghana,” he stated.
President of the Western Region House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia V welcomed news that the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) plans to build a refinery in the region, which would add value to mined ore.
He commended both GPHA and GMC for considering an end to road-based ore transport, describing rail as the safest and most reliable means of moving ore from mines to port.
On his part, the Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson highlighted the government’s continued investment in port expansion, safety systems, navigation upgrades, road networks, and public-private partnerships—all of which have helped reposition the Port of Takoradi as a competitive shipping hub in West Africa.
“For the Western Region, this development establishes Takoradi as a logistics and industrial anchor capable of attracting global shipping lines, expanding mineral exports, reducing turnaround time, cutting shipping costs, and strengthening Ghana’s competitive edge in international trade,” he said.
Mr Nelson also pointed to untapped opportunities that could further enhance the port’s capacity and competitiveness.
“Looking ahead, this milestone challenges us to think bigger. We must ask: How do we transform Takoradi into a full-scale West African maritime hub? How do we integrate port, rail, and road networks to improve cargo movement and regional trade? How do we expand local value addition, industrial processing, and job creation along the maritime and mineral value chains? And how do we ensure that economic gains translate into tangible community development?”
The CSB Years and Manganese Haulage
The CSB Years, IMO 9493092 is a Bulker Carrier with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 300,000, metric tones. The arrival of the cape-size vessel is hailed as a significant business turning point for GMC, aligning with its ambitious target to ship 10 million tonnes of manganese in 2026.
Currently berthed at the Dry Bulk Terminal of the Port of Takoradi, the CSB Years will for the next couple of days, be loaded with manganese ore mined by the GMC.
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- [Editor:tianyawei]
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