Young Ghanaians develop AI algorithm running Tema Port — President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that the sophisticated artificial intelligence system now running Tema Port was developed by a team of young Ghanaians. This locally built algorithm plays a key role in managing container movements, improving efficiency, and ensuring smoother port operations.
At the commissioning of Phases 1 and 2 of the Tema Port expansion, Mahama described the AI system as a breakthrough in Ghanaian innovation. He explained that the algorithm helps anticipate and optimise container flow, reduce delays, and make operations more predictable — all of which contribute to faster turnaround times at the port.
The project began after a challenge issued by a port executive, prompting students from the University of Ghana, Legon, to develop the AI solution. These young engineers now operate the system at the port, making them central to Tema Port’s technological transformation.
The President linked this AI achievement to Ghana’s broader economic vision: to be a regional logistics hub and technology leader. He emphasized that the Tema Port expansion is not just about infrastructure, but also a statement of Ghana’s capacity for innovation, enterprise, and youth empowerment.
Mahama further noted that additional cranes and more advanced automation systems will be introduced by 2027, enhancing the port’s productivity even further.
Economists believe that integrating AI could be a game changer for Ghana’s maritime sector. By leveraging locally developed technology, the country can reduce dependence on foreign expertise, build local capacity, and create high‑skilled jobs. The President praised the young engineers, calling them “creators, not just users, of technology.”
The commissioning of Tema Port’s expansion and the AI system marks a milestone in Ghana’s efforts to merge infrastructure with innovation and youth talent. The story of the young Ghanaians behind the port’s AI represents hope that the country’s future will be shaped not only by physical infrastructure, but by code, algorithms, and the ambition of its youth.
