Accra: The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has called for stronger cooperation among West and Central African ports to improve competitiveness, operational efficiency, and regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to Ghana News Agency, Major-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, Director-General of GPHA, emphasized the need for ports across the region to share knowledge, technical expertise, and innovative solutions to common challenges due to the changing global shipping environment. He highlighted that the growth of international trade, evolving security threats, climate change, technological advancement, and changing regulatory requirements necessitate continuous review of operations and infrastructure by port authorities.
Major-General Tanye-Kulono made this call during a welcome address to participants at a three-day meeting of the technical committees of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in Tema. He pointed out that the meeting serves as a crucial platform for member ports to exchange experiences and identify practical solutions to challenges affecting maritime security, environmental protection, port operations, infrastructure development, and technical management.
He stressed the importance of stronger cooperation and the sharing of best practices in areas such as maritime security, environmental management, operational efficiency, and emergency preparedness. 'Our ports are not only responsible for facilitating trade, but also protecting our waters, our environment, and the communities that we serve,' he stated.
The Director-General underscored that the future competitiveness of ports would depend on their ability to plan and invest in infrastructure that meets the changing needs of global trade. He noted the critical role of embracing innovation and digitalization, while ensuring that infrastructure investments are sustainable and resilient, in supporting national and regional economic transformation.
While acknowledging that ports face different circumstances, Major-General Tanye-Kulono pointed out that many challenges are shared, highlighting the importance of platforms like PMAWCA for pooling collective experience and expertise. He encouraged participants to use the meeting as an opportunity to not only deliberate on their agenda but also openly examine existing approaches and identify solutions that could be implemented across member ports.
Reflecting on Ghana's progress in modernizing its port infrastructure, he recognized that port development is a continuous process requiring responsiveness to changing global shipping patterns and the broader aspirations of AfCFTA. 'AfCFTA has a significant role in promoting intra-African trade and regional connectivity, and this requires us to work together to reduce inefficiencies, enhance safety and security, and make our ports more sustainable and competitive,' he concluded, expressing confidence that the meeting would yield recommendations to strengthen cooperation among member ports.