Tema, Greater Accra Region, Ghana – July 8, 2025 – The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC has significantly ramped up its operational support for Ghana’s economic aspirations by commencing 24-hour banking services at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in Tema. This strategic deployment, which went live on July 1, 2025, directly aligns with and facilitates the government’s ambitious 24-hour port service initiative, promising to revolutionize trade efficiency and financial accessibility at Ghana’s busiest port.
The around-the-clock banking service is a crucial step by ADB to ensure seamless payment of GPHA handling charges at any time, day or night. This continuous accessibility is designed to meet the demanding and often irregular needs of importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and other key stakeholders operating within the port ecosystem.
Edward Ato Sarpong, the Managing Director of ADB, underscored the broader vision behind this move. He explained that the initiative is a direct complement to the government’s 24-hour economy program, a flagship policy aimed at driving job creation, boosting export volumes, and transitioning the national economy towards higher productivity and value addition. “The 24-hour economy is not just about working round the clock but it’s about creating added value and decent jobs towards higher productivity,” Sarpong emphasized, highlighting the qualitative aspect of the program.
The ADB’s extended service is expected to be particularly beneficial for critical players in the logistics chain, including freight forwarders, customs clearing agents, shipping companies, and traders, who often operate across irregular hours to meet tight logistical schedules. Sarpong articulated that “By providing 24-hour banking service, ADB is ensuring port stakeholders have convenient access to perform financial transactions needed to keep their operations moving efficiently.”
Looking ahead, the ADB MD indicated that plans are already well advanced to expand this 24-hour service model to other crucial payment collection points across the country. This expansion is envisioned to further invigorate economic activities nationwide, extending the benefits of continuous service beyond the port. This latest offering, Ato Sarpong noted, resonates perfectly with the bank’s new tagline, “Beyond Banking…,” which encapsulates ADB’s commitment to transcend traditional banking services and deliver innovative, customer-focused solutions that significantly enhance customer experience across all sectors of the economy. He urged customers and the general public to fully leverage the new 24-hour service at the Tema Port for their handling charge payments, thereby facilitating smoother and more efficient business operations.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
