Getting sub-Saharan African ports on par with the rest of the world demands attention to governance ahead of large-scale investments in infrastructure, says non-profit independent researcher Bookings.
The researcher contributes delays at sub-Saharan Africa’s ports to collusion between controlling agencies, port authorities, private terminal operators, logistics operators and large shippers, noting that these factors pose the biggest challenge to the efficient handling of goods.
There have been noticeable improvements in both infrastructure provision - through increased participation of the private sector - and customs clearance efficiency in recent years in most of Africa, says Bookings. However, it notes that the time taken to clear cargo from ports remains inordinately high.
