Towards cleaner shipping in Africa

Green corridors for Ghana

GHANA: Ghana is taking preparatory steps towards a cleaner shipping industry with the completion of the pre-feasibility study on Green Shipping Corridors, which culminated in a consortium incubation workshop at the beginning of the month.

The event, organised by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Centre for Zero Carbon Shipping in partnership with the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Ghana Shippers Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, brought together key public and private stakeholders.

It served as a crucial platform for dialogue, fostering collaboration between policymakers and industry leaders to assess potential viable corridors. Green shipping corridors are routes where ships utilize greener fuels and technologies to significantly reduce emissions, playing a key role in the global effort toward maritime decarbonisation. The event opened with key speeches from the GMA, GSA, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Ministry of Energy & Green Transition and the Ministry of Transport.

Participants included representatives drawn from the Danish Embassy in Accra, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Ghana Navy, Ministries of Transport and Energy, the Ghana Chamber of Shipping, as well as the African Continental Free Trade Secretariat.

In her remarks, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey highlighted Ghana's unique position along the Gulf of Guinea, stating that the country's vibrant port infrastructure, combined with its readiness to partner with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on its decarbonisation roadmap, allows Ghana to reduce the risks of the green transition while unlocking opportunities for inclusive national development.

The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Dr Kamal-Deen Ali (Naval Capt Rtd) highlighted the Authority's commitment to sustainable maritime practices, specifically focusing on green shipping.

He noted that GMA, in collaboration with key national stakeholders, and with technical support from the IMO, is in the process of developing a robust national plan of action for a green transition. Emphasizing on the need for Ghana to achieve a Just and Equitable transition, he maintained that the findings from the pre-feasibility study and the outcomes of the workshop will inform the next phase of the study, moving Ghana closer to establishing its first green shipping corridors.