Accra: Mr Jean Marie Koffi, the Secretary-General of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), has urged its technical committees to develop concrete, fundable solutions to strengthen the resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness of ports across the region.
According to Ghana News Agency, Koffi emphasized that the committees should move beyond general recommendations and use their deliberations to create practical projects that can attract funding and be implemented across member ports. The committees involved include the Maritime Security, Environmental Protection and Operations (MSEPO); Technical Studies, Infrastructures and Development (TSID); and Liaison Officers (LOs). Koffi made this call at the opening of a joint meeting of the three technical committees in Tema, hosted by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
He stated that the maritime sector operates in an increasingly complex environment characterized by evolving security threats, climate change, technological advancement, and changing regulatory requirements, making regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing essential. The Maritime Security, Environmental Protection and Operations Committee is expected to focus on emergency preparedness, business continuity, maritime security, environmental protection, and the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) decarbonization agenda.
The Technical Studies, Infrastructure, and Development Committee will examine the adaptation of port infrastructure to changing trade patterns, including port-city coexistence, land pressures, terminal expansion, and the increasing need to accommodate larger container vessels. Meanwhile, the Liaison Officers Committee will focus on partnerships, including public-private partnerships, strengthening networks, and implementing its 2026 action plan.
Koffi noted that while the three committees have different mandates, they share a common objective of enabling ports to 'anticipate, adapt, and cooperate'. He also highlighted the West Africa Sustainable Ports Programme (WASP), a £54 million European Union initiative covering 13 coastal countries over five years, aimed at supporting the blue economy and sustainable port development in the region.
He mentioned that the programme provides an opportunity for member ports to translate their deliberations into projects eligible for funding, particularly in areas such as green infrastructure, climate adaptation, ecosystem protection, and port resilience. For the Maritime Security, Environmental Protection and Operations Committee, Koffi proposed the development of pilot business-continuity action plans and regional approaches to the green transition.
The technical committee should develop a catalogue of solutions for terminal diversification and adaptation of dock infrastructure to accommodate larger vessels. He also called for the implementation of the 2026 action plan of the Liaison Officers Committee, supported by mechanisms for monitoring and sharing best practices among member ports.