Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Dr. Kofi Mbiah, has mentioned congestion, demurrage, rent charges, pilfering and surcharges as some problems facing shippers within the sub-region.

Delivering a solidarity message at the opening of a four-day international mid-term meeting of the technical committees of the Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) at Tema, Dr Mbiah called for key reforms to facilitate procedures and control at the ports.

According to him, such reforms will improve services rendered by shipping service providers in the sub-region. PMAWCA is a sub-regional intergovernmental economic organisation established in October 1972 in Freetown, Sierra Leone by the United National Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA).

Its membership is made of 22 regular member ports and 9 associate members including landlocked countries and maritime organisations, all located along the West coast of the African continent stretching from Mauritania to Angola covering about 9,400 kilometres on the Atlantic Ocean. It also has observer members in Europe.

Michael Luguje, Secretary General (PMAWCA), in a speech, urged stakeholders in the marine industry to plan and develop ports to facilitate economic growth. According to him, meeting the expectation of the ports requires huge investment, which has become difficult for government and port authorities to provide.

He also said every port authority and operator should provide facilities and services that will ensure the smooth movement of goods in an efficient, fast and cost-effective manner. Mr. Luguje said maritime transport is said to be responsible for the movement of 90 percent of global trade.

Port authorities in West and Central Africa are partnering the private sector to attract financial capital for infrastructural development and requisite technological, as well as human expertise for speedy, safe and efficient delivery of ports services.

He also called on governments to invest heavily into ports and hinterland infrastructural development to accommodate the increasing trade flows.