‘Efficiency, transparency will define Ghana’s maritime sector’

The Ghana Chamber of Shipping, under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport, has held a one-day stakeholder forum on Ghana’s maritime transport.

The forum brought together key stakeholders from Ghana’s maritime, logistics, and transport ecosystem to dialogue on current inefficiencies, port cost structures and pathways to enhance operational transparency and competitiveness.

The forum was held on the theme: “Streamlining Ghana’s Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector for Transparency, Efficiency, and Competitiveness.”

Madam Jemilat Mahamah, the Vice President of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping, welcoming participants, noted that the three fundamental pillars that will define the future of Ghana’s maritime sector are efficiency, transparency and competitiveness.

Madam Mahama said the forum was crucial as it brought together diverse perspectives from government agencies, private sector operators, regulators, maritime experts and civil society to forge practical solutions and collaborative strategies to transform Ghana’s maritime sector into one characterised by streamlined processes, transparent governance and robust competition that rewards innovation and drives down costs.

She indicated that Ghana’s maritime sector plays a significantly important role which is not only about ships coming in and going out but also about trade, revenue, jobs and connecting Ghana to the global supply chain.

She added that the Tema and Takoradi ports handle the vast majority of Ghana’s seaport trade, with Tema being the engine room, as it processes approximately 80 per cent of Ghana’s import and export cargo and also acts as a gateway not only for Ghanaian trade but also for landlocked countries in West Africa.Therefore, their performance has implications beyond national borders, affecting regional trading and competitiveness.

Mr. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister for Transport, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Madam Dorcas Affo-Toffey, reiterated that the ports and shipping sector was not just a facilitator of commerce but a major engine of national revenue, regional integration and industrial competitiveness.

Therefore, it is important for policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders to meet regularly at forums not only to review the sector’s progress but also to keep pace with global trends, share experiences and learn from one another.

He indicated that the Tema and Takoradi Ports were more than gateways for trade, therefore, strengthening the sector was vital to Ghana’s long-term economic transformation.

According to him, even as sector players celebrate achievements, they must also confront the challenges in the sector, which include high transaction costs, complex cargo delivery processes, excessive charges, demurrage penalties and inefficiencies that increase turnaround times, having a direct effect on competitiveness, raising operational costs and threatening Ghana’s position as West Africa’s preferred trading hub.

The minister noted that the challenges also present opportunities, stating that by embracing technology, best practices and collective expertise, sustainable solutions could be found.

“Such solutions require collaboration across the value chain. The Government of H.E. President Mahama recognises that every sector has a role in the Resetting Agenda and flagship interventions such as the 24-Hour Economy Policy.”

Mr Stanley K. Ahulu, the President of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping said the chamber was established in 2018 by sector players to inform discussions among both the private and public sectors that lead to policy influence and formulation.

Mr Ahulu said the forum would come up with recommendations to be presented to the ministry on happenings in the sector and how to tackle them.

He mentioned some of the issues such as a clear, comprehensive national maritime transport policy, a practical regulatory framework underpinned by a national maritime transport policy, and a national maritime transport database.

Other issues include the competitiveness of Ghana’s ports, the increase in the cost of shipping through Ghana’s ports, the anti-competition practices of shipping service providers, and the need for customer-orientated regulation and independent and open regulation of the sector, among others.

Mr Ahulu further stated that for Ghana’s ports to be competitive it must look at its vessel turnaround time, cargo dwell time, throughput, port productivity, tariffs and total logistics cost, connectivity position and predictability and governance.

GNA

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