The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has cautioned the newly inaugurated Board of Directors of the Tema Shipyard and Drydock (TSY) against interfering in the day-to-day management of the company, urging them instead to work collaboratively with Management in line with good corporate governance principles.
According to the Minister, while the Board plays a critical oversight and strategic role, operational management remains the responsibility of the company’s executives.
He stressed that under the governance framework, the Board operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and must not engage with other authorities above the Ministry without due consultation.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr Nikpe congratulated members of the newly constituted Board, describing their appointment as a pivotal moment in Ghana’s quest to become the maritime hub of West Africa.
He said the inauguration aligns with the government’s broader agenda to reset Ghana’s economy under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, with a strong focus on infrastructure, logistics, and job creation under the 24-Hour Economy policy.
“As the main gateway for international trade, Ghana’s ports and related infrastructure must be positioned to drive economic growth and support national development,” the Minister
The Tema Shipyard and Drydock is as a strategic national asset established under Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah.
The facility remains one of the largest ship repair and dry-docking installations in the sub-region, with immense potential to support Ghana’s Blue Economy ambitions.
He emphasized that to fully harness this potential, Ghana’s maritime infrastructure must be modernized to meet world-class standards while remaining efficient and commercially viable.
The Transport Minister disclosed that government plans to retool and revamp the shipyard through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), aimed at restoring the facility to its former glory and making it competitive on the global stage.
He also highlighted plans to collaborate with the private sector to establish technical schools in shipbuilding and ship repair, a move expected to equip Ghanaian youth with industry-ready skills and increase local participation in the maritime value chain. The shipyard, he added, could also play a critical role in supporting Ghana’s oil and gas industry through fabrication, maintenance, and repairs.
Addressing the Board, the Minister reminded members that their selection was based on proven expertise, integrity, and track records.
The newly inaugurated Board is chaired by George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, with eight other members drawn from diverse professional backgrounds.
They are Alhaji Osman Sulemana, Millicent Wutsika, Mahama Adam Jandah, Samuel Bavug Wusah and Kofi A. Asmah.
The rest are Abubakari Muaz Zemoli, Obed Koah Opintan and Albert Derrick Fiatui
In his response, Dr. Yankey pledged the Board’s commitment to transforming the Tema Shipyard and Drydock into an enviable maritime facility on the African continent, assuring the Ministry of their readiness to work within the established governance framework to achieve national objectives.
The Transport Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to providing policy guidance and removing bureaucratic bottlenecks to attract the right investments, expressing confidence that the new Board will place national interest above all else as it steers the shipyard into a new era.
By Stanley Nii Blewu
