An Impact Assessment of Maritime Ports on Communities – A Case of Tema Port and Tema Newtown, Ghana

Abstract

The adoption of Sustainable Strategic Management (SSM) principles by some port organizations offered them opportunities to serve their local communities, and with that, gained acceptance from them.   They also gained international recognition which further created opportunities of competitive advantage for them.  In light of the trend, this research in 2009, sought to assess the impact which the Tema Port had had on the Newtown Community in that decade.  By means of analyzed data from people in the Community, Traditional Leaders and the Port Authority, it was realized that the Port being in the Newtown locality was of monumental significance to the Community.  Even though the Traditional Leaders did not expect much support from the port, the ordinary people in the Community thought otherwise.  The Community had many expectations from the Port such as maintaining a hygienic environment.  It was interestingly revealed that the fisher folk in the Community could support Port business by watching over  ships in the Port’s waters against robbery attacks. The Port Authority had supported many national initiatives, but there was no much physical evidence to demonstrate its commitment to CSR in the Newtown Community in that decade.  For a mutually beneficial relationship with Newtown; and if it became their desire to adopt SSM (i.e. to gain international recognition and competitiveness), Port’s Management was recommended to implement periodical CSR programs for Newtown, involve indigenes in providing informal seafront security and spearhead the unification of organisations located in the Ports zone to collectively contribute to develop Newtown.

Keywords: Sustainable strategic management, Newtown Port Community, mutual beneficial relationship.