AECOM supervised construction of the US$900 million Tema Port Expansion project on behalf of MPS, the operator of the state-of-the-art container terminal at Tema Port.
Located 30 km east of Accra, the development includes a new 1.4 kilometers long quay housing four container berths, container stacking yards, a 3.6 km breakwater, a new 19 meters deep port access channel, supporting port infrastructure and services including new administration buildings for MPS and the Port Authorities, a fully redundant backup diesel generator power plant.
The new port can accommodate the world’s largest container vessels and triples the country’s container handling capacity and is one of the largest public-private collaborations in Ghana’s history. Terminal 3 as the new port is known, successfully went into operation in June 2019.
Sustainability leadership
The project was guided by International Finance Corporation (IFC) environmental and social performance standards, with full-time environmental specialists ensuring compliance. Throughout the project lifecycle, environmental and social impacts were carefully considered, leading to intensive monitoring of air and noise pollution, marine and lagoon biodiversity, sediment and water quality, fish catch trends, solid waste generation and wastewater discharge.
Key environmental initiatives included constructing an offset turtle nesting and hatching beach, upgrading adjacent community facilities and treating wastewater and stormwater before discharge. The project also intercepted and treated drainage water that previously flowed directly into the sea and conducted shoreline modeling to assess impacts from the new breakwater and offshore activities. Major buildings were designed and constructed to achieve IFC Edge green building certification, ensuring energy-efficient and sustainable infrastructure.
Community impact
Over 90% of the 4,000 workers employed during the project were Ghanaians, many of whom gained exposure to international construction standards and advanced health, safety and environmental systems. Internships and training programs provided to local students and graduates ensured a lasting impact on Ghana’s labor market, equipping the workforce with skills to support the nation’s economic development.
As part of the Green Ghana Day in July 2023, the AECOM team on the Tema Port Expansion – Berth 4 project joined forces with the client Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS) to embark on a massive tree planting exercise around the port and along the Sakumono beach next to the port. The activity attracted the participation of many stakeholders including government officials, local businesses and community organizations. The planting of 1,001 coconut trees along the shoreline symbolizes rejuvenation, growth and a commitment to environmental conservation.
The Tema Port Expansion project has earned prestigious accolades and set industry benchmarks. It received the ENR Global Best Projects Award 2021 for Best Airport/Port, recognizing its exemplary execution and collaboration with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC).
A significant milestone was achieving IFC Edge green building certification for three major buildings, including Ghana’s first certified light industrial facility. The project also achieved an exceptional safety record, with a Lost Time Accident Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of 0.04 across 9,794,937 hours worked, underscoring its commitment to health, safety and environmental excellence.