Reimagining A Nexus Between Seaport And National Development: Sociotechnical Imaginaries Of Ghana’s Port Of Tema

This article explores the evolving sociotechnical imaginaries (STIs) shaping Ghana’s Port of Tema, revealing how national development goals and global trade imperatives intersect in African port governance. Through analysis of policy documents, media discourse, and interviews, it identifies four overlapping phases in the evolution of these imaginaries: the industrial gateway era, neoliberal globalization, the rise of a transshipment hub, and the most recent phase of indigenous contestation and institutional resilience. Rather than replacing earlier visions, newer imaginaries build upon and hybridize older ones, creating both synergies and tensions. The study demonstrates that STIs at Tema have evolved through processes of layering and translation rather than substitution, challenging simplistic binaries of national versus global governance. While Tema’s transformation into a global logistics hub has deepened integration into global trade networks, it has also exposed power imbalances and sparked local resistance over equity and control, particularly regarding Terminal 3 development. Institutional responses from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, union activism, and alternative development efforts demonstrate resilience not as rejection of globalization, but as negotiated engagement aimed at shaping globalization’s trajectory towards more equitable outcomes.