Digitalisation is critical to improving trade facilitation and reducing inefficiencies in port and shipping operations in Ghana. According to Madam Josephine Nkrumah, a Maritime Lawyer and Senior Fellow at the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute, Ghana’s maritime digitalisation journey has evolved significantly over the years. The country has transitioned from paper-based cargo transactions to paperless processes, electronic payments, and the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and single-window processes.
The Ghana Maritime Authority is spearheading the Maritime Single Window initiative and Just-in-Time sailing to improve efficiency and reduce vessel turnaround times through inter-agency coordination. Madam Nkrumah made these remarks during a Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA)-powered media discussion. She emphasised that digitalisation should serve the broader objective of trade facilitation rather than become an end in itself.
Ghana and other countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) need to leverage digitalisation to make trade more seamless and economically beneficial to citizens. Madam Nkrumah noted that increasing cargo volumes following the COVID-19 pandemic presented an opportunity for Ghana to strengthen its infrastructure and develop regional short-sea shipping services.
The use of short-sea shipping can be a catalyst for regional trade, reducing the reliance on road transportation along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. Currently, about 70 per cent of regional trade along the coast is transported by road, exposing cross-border traders to multiple customs checkpoints, increased costs, and challenges, particularly for small businesses.
ECOWAS is developing frameworks and cabotage laws to create an enabling environment for short-sea shipping services. However, Madam Nkrumah cautioned against the duplication of digital systems, advocating for a seamless one-stop platform that connects the various actors in the sector.
Mr Eric D. Ang-numbaala, Senior Planning Officer at the Ghana Maritime Authority, highlighted the importance of digitalisation for maritime security and environmental risk management. He noted that Ghana’s Maritime Domain Awareness coverage had been expanded from the 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone to the country’s 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Mr Ang-numbaala emphasised that technology alone is insufficient and must be supported by inter-agency coordination, information sharing, training, and appropriate infrastructure. The integration of digital systems and collaboration among stakeholders is crucial for efficient maritime trade in Ghana.
Key points
- Digitalisation is critical to improving trade facilitation and reducing inefficiencies in port and shipping operations in Ghana.
- Ghana’s maritime digitalisation journey has evolved from paper-based cargo transactions to paperless processes, electronic payments, and the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and single-window processes.
- The use of short-sea shipping can be a catalyst for regional trade, reducing the reliance on road transportation along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.
