Vice Chairman-Ghana Chamber of Shipping (GCS) Capt. Aaron Turkson has called for increased local private sector participation in the maritime industry, to ensure productivity and national economic development.

According to him, by involving local private sector players the maritime industry can tap into their expertise, resources and networks – leading to sustainable growth and development.

“Over past years government has been the major player, and we believe it is now time for the private sector – especially indigenous local entrepreneurs – to increase their participation in our industry,” he added.

Furthermore, he bemoaned the current state of local participation in the country’s shipping sector. “Currently, indigenous local participation in our shipping sector is very low. Many of our past thriving indigenous local shipping agents, freight-forwarders and stevedoring companies have either shut down or are barely surviving.”

Additionally, he called for government support toward reviving local private sector shipping and emphasised the need for a fair and even balance between the industry’s external investors and its local indigenous participants.

However, he cited job creation, skill development and better understanding of local market needs and adaptability as a few of the numerous advantages that local private sector participation in the maritime industry can offer.

Mr. Turkson said this while speaking at the GCS’ Shipping Conference Series for 2024 in Accra, on the theme ‘Blue Economy: Local Private Sector Participation in the Maritime Space’.

The conference, among other things, served as a platform for industry stakeholders to discuss viable pathways for private sector engagement through exploring public-private partnerships for port development and fostering innovation in maritime technology.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Minister of Transport, Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah – who was Guest of Honour at the event, in a speech read on his behalf commended GCS for the Shipping Conference Series and said that its theme resonates with the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision of a sustainable and prosperous maritime industry in the country.

He added that events such as this play a vital role in providing a forum for communication and collaboration between the many stakeholders in the country’s maritime space toward sustainable use of our maritime resources to engender economic growth, improve livelihoods and create jobs, while preserving marine and coastal ecosystems.

Also, he said the Akufo-Addo government recognises the maritime, shipping and logistics sector as having a significant role to play toward socio-economic development of the country – the reason why it has and continues to invest in infrastructure and state-of- the-arts technology to facilitate port business and operations.

The minister furthermore said government is leaving no stone unturned in leveraging on private sector expertise and collaboration – citing the completed Tema Port Terminal 3 project which was delivered through a collaboration between government, the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) and Messrs Meridian Ports Services (MPS) as a significant milestone in realising this vision.

Moreover, he indicated that the country, in alignment with international efforts, is actively crafting policies to facilitate a green transition in the shipping industry. “A cornerstone initiative is the development of a National Action Plan on Green Shipping, which is under development in collaboration with the Ghana Maritime Authority,” he added.

Additionally, he said the country’s position on the West African coast provides an advantageous gateway for international shipping and trade. “With our deep-sea ports and contributions of fishing, shipping, tourism and marine resource management, the potential for growth in this sector is immense,” he further noted.