A Review of Port Governance in Ghana

As Ghana slides gradually towards a landlord port management model, there is an increasing trend of private sector participation in port development and service delivery. But these have not been without controversies in the form of legal tussles and labour unrests. This article discussed the issue of port governance, competition and private sector participation, from the point of view of the World Bank and other individual researchers. It looked at alternative governance regimes and to see what the best practices are. We made the following conclusion: firstly, that the advent of private sector participation in port operations in Ghana has necessitated the restructuring of the governance framework of the sector. Secondly, that the involvement of the port authority in cargo operations is uncompetitive and hampers the regulatory role of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). Furthermore, that the governance decision by GPHA has created a virtual monopoly and that inter-port competition is but a mirage in West Africa.