Mahama Orders Audit into Tema Port Revenue Leakages — And Honestly, It’s About Time
I still remember my first time at Tema Port. It was years ago, and I went with an uncle who was clearing a container of building materials. We got there early in the morning, yet somehow spent the whole day chasing papers, stamping this, signing that… and somewhere in the chaos, my uncle leaned over and whispered, “Ei, this port leaks more money than a broken water tank.” I laughed, but deep down I kinda knew he was right.
So when I saw the headline this week — “Mahama orders audit into Tema Port revenue leakages” — I couldn’t help but nod. And maybe roll my eyes just a little.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good move. A necessary move, even. For years, everyone from the clearing agents to the folks selling kelewele outside the port have quietly agreed on one thing: money disappears at Tema Port. Like… poof. You pay duties, you see the receipts, but somehow the government’s books never quite match up. Funny how that works.
In my experience (and I’ve only had a handful of brushes with port stuff, to be fair), the place feels like a mix of order and… creative accounting. You’re standing in line, watching trucks roll in and out, and you can almost feel the undercurrent of “something’s not quite right here.”
Everyone has a story. Someone paid a little extra “to make things faster.” Someone else found out their container was “lost” unless they settled this or that. It’s exhausting.
So yeah. Mahama calling for an audit now? About time. But also — why does it always take this long? Governments have come and gone, and every one of them has promised to fix the leaks. Yet here we are again, plugging holes like we’re in some endless game of whack-a-mole.
I might be wrong, but I think part of the problem is how normalized it’s all become. Like, we joke about it. “Oh, the port? Better carry some extra cash in your pocket.” Ha ha. But it’s not really funny when you think about how much Ghana could do with all that lost revenue. Better schools. Better roads. Better everything, honestly.
And this is where I feel a little conflicted. The audit is a good step — but then what? Will we actually see accountability? Or will this be another big story that fizzles out once the news cycle moves on?
(And sorry if this sounds cynical. Maybe I’ve just seen too many headlines that promised change and delivered… not much.)
At the end of the day, I really want to believe things can get better. I want to believe the audit will shine a light on the rot, and the leaks will finally get fixed.
But here’s what I keep asking myself: What happens after the audit? Will we — as citizens — keep the pressure on to make sure this isn’t just another political show? Or will we shrug and go back to business as usual?
Something to think about the next time you’re sipping your morning coffee and scrolling through the news. Because Tema Port doesn’t just belong to “them.” It belongs to all of us.
What do you think?