The President of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping, Stanley Raja Korshie Ahorlu, has emphasised the urgent need for Ghana to develop a robust local shipping industry to enhance economic growth.

According to Mr. Ahorlu, Ghana’s reliance on road transport for cargo movement is inefficient, and the country must shift its focus to maritime transport.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on JoyNews AM Show with Benjamin Akakpo, he stated that shipping is the most efficient means of transporting goods and people, yet Ghana has not fully harnessed its potential.

Mr. Ahorlu also stressed the need for harmonised maritime laws across African countries to create a single continental shipping corridor, noting that such an initiative would significantly boost trade within Africa’s single market and facilitate the movement of goods across borders.

Ghana currently has about 51 vessels, most of which are old and nearly unfit for purpose. He warned that several of these ships will soon be discarded, further weakening the country’s maritime sector.

To address this, he called for private sector investment to build short-sea vessels, which would help Ghana establish a competitive and sustainable shipping industry.

Mr. Ahorlu highlighted that 50 per cent of Ghana’s tax revenue comes from the ports of Tema and Takoradi, underscoring the importance of the maritime sector to the economy.

However, he noted that the cost of doing business at Ghanaian ports is too high, making the country less competitive compared to other ports in the region.

With Ghana’s relatively short coastline, he believes that short-sea shipping presents a viable opportunity to enhance trade and production.

“The low-hanging fruit we can use to help engender production is maritime transport,” he stated.

He urged the government to take the lead in developing Ghana’s maritime sector by supporting policies that promote vessel ownership, investment in infrastructure, and local participation in the industry’s value chain.

He argued that a well-developed shipping sector would retain more economic value within the country, boosting production and creating jobs.