Transport Minister Calls for Practical Solutions to Streamline Vessel Clearance

The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has called on maritime stakeholders in West and Central Africa to move beyond policy discussions and focus on practical solutions that will streamline vessel clearance and eliminate administrative bottlenecks across the region’s ports.

Speaking on his behalf at the opening of a five-day Maritime Single Window workshop in Tema on Monday, the Director in charge of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Transport, Merlyn Gaskin, noted that fast, predictable and transparent port operations have become an economic necessity rather than a technical objective

Mr. Nikpe said delays in port operations and the repeated submission of information continue to increase costs for businesses, consumers and national economies.

He noted that Ghana has made progress through initiatives such as the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), digital port management systems and electronic data exchanges, but stressed that implementation gaps remain a challenge across the continent.

The Minister further stated the importance of regional cooperation, noting that maritime trade along the Gulf of Guinea extends beyond national borders and requires coordinated action to improve efficiency and boost regional trade.

The Head of the Africa Section at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Issa Mwajita, said efficient maritime transport remains central to economic development in West and Central Africa, explaining ship clearance and port operations directly affects transport costs, supply chain reliability and access to regional and international markets.

According to her, improving information exchange among ships, ports and public authorities is a practical step toward addressing many of the challenges facing the maritime sector.

On his part, the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali urged participants to work towards the full implementation of a legally supported, interoperable and user-friendly National Maritime Single Window.

He called for greater integration between existing systems, including ICUMS and the Advanced Vessel Clearance System (AVCS), to ensure secure information sharing and improved coordination among maritime stakeholders.

Dr. Ali said that the success of the Maritime Single Window initiative should be measured not by the introduction of digital systems alone, but by their ability to improve service delivery, reduce delays, facilitate trade and support economic growth.

The workshop, organised by the IMO in collaboration with the GMA, the World Bank and the Africa Transport Policy Program, has brought together 55 delegates from nine African countries to share experiences and develop strategies for the implementation of Maritime Single Windows, a unified digital platform designed to support the transition from paper-based vessel clearance processes to streamlined maritime trade administration in line with IMO standards.

Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD