Revamping Ghana’s Maritime Future: New Board Inaugurated By Transport Minister for Tema Shipyard and Drydock
Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has inaugurated the new Board of Directors of the Tema Shipyard and Drydock (TSY), marking a significant milestone in the country’s maritime development. The ceremony took place on February 27, 2026, with Nikpe emphasizing the shipyard’s strategic importance as a national asset established by Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The Tema Shipyard and Drydock is one of the largest ship repair and dry-docking facilities in West Africa, with the potential to boost Ghana’s Blue Economy resources and create jobs for the youth. The government’s priority is to re-tool and revamp the shipyard through private sector partnerships, establishing technical schools to develop skills in shipbuilding and repair.
The newly appointed board is chaired by Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey and includes Alhaji Osman Sulemana, Millicent Wutsika, Mahama Adam Jandah, Samuel Bavug Wusah, Kofi A. Asmah, Abubakari Muaz Zemoli, Obed Koah Opintan, and Albert Derrick Fiatui.The Board is expected to spearhead the modernization of the shipyard’s infrastructure, explore public-private partnerships, and ensure transparency and accountability. Nikpe urged the board to work collaboratively with management, avoiding day-to-day interference, and prioritize the national interest.
Key Objectives of the Board:
Modernize Infrastructure: Strategically revitalize the facility by modernizing the shipyard’s infrastructure and equipment
Public-Private Partnerships: Explore PPPs to inject capital and technical expertise
Transparency and Accountability: Ensure highest standards of ethics in all operations
Competitiveness: Identify and address bottlenecks hindering global competitiveness
Dr. George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, Chairman of the Board, expressed gratitude to the Minister and President John Dramani Mahama for the appointment, pledging to work assiduously with management and staff to elevate TDS to become a leading player in the drydock and shipbuilding industry in Africa.
“We are confident that by the end of our term, we would have made TDS not only the envy of West Africa, but an active, competitive and principal player in the drydock and shipbuilding industry in Africa,” he said. The Board also acknowledged the government’s Reset Agenda and 24-Hour Economy programme, committing to support TDS in becoming a linchpin of the initiative.
