The Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has announced that it will soon introduce a shipping line that will help facilitate trade between West and Central Africa.

Wilson Atta-Krofah, immediate-past President of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry, disclosed this when President and board members of GCCI, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State in charge of Private-Public Partnerships, Rashid Pelpuo at the Presidency.

Mr. Atta-Krofah said the introduction of the shipping line would make trading across the borders cheaper.

He said GCCI is collaborating with its sister organizations in West and Central Africa and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to introduce the shipping line.

According to him, ECOWAS has promised $100,000 towards the realization of the shipping line.

Atta-Krofah said, “Trading by sea will enable us to avoid some of the problems we encounter when trading by road which includes road blocks and barriers at the borders,” said

He revealed that the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry is spearheading the integration of West Africa.

Atta-Krofah said, “We think that the West Africa market provide a very big opportunity for Ghanaians to expand their businesses. Fortunately, Ghana is at the center in West Africa and the world at large so if we can get our other African countries to corporate with us to make the ECOWAS trade liberalization policy work, it will enable us to trade across all borders and expand our markets.”

He said the quality of Ghanaian products is far superior to that of any other country in West Africa, adding that “this has made demand for Ghanaian products in West and other parts of Africa very high.”

Atta-Krofah called on government to support the initiative since Ghana stands to benefit greatly.