Ghana hosts regional workshop to digitize maritime trade systems

A sub-regional workshop on the Maritime Single Window opened in Tema, Ghana, aimed at transitioning maritime trade administration from fragmented, paper-based processes to a unified digital platform. The initiative seeks to allow vessel arrival, stay, and departure documentation to be submitted once and shared seamlessly across regulatory bodies.

Organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in partnership with the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the World Bank, and the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP), the event included 55 delegates from several West and Central African nations, including Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, and Sierra Leone.

Ghana’s Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, emphasized that establishing fast and transparent port operations is an economic necessity to reduce costs for businesses and consumers. Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, Director-General of the GMA, noted that integrating systems used by customs, maritime, and port authorities is essential to meet IMO requirements that took effect in 2024 and to improve overall operational efficiency.