West Africa’s maritime industry has expanded its representation in the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) with news that the Ghana Chamber of Shipping (GCS) has become an associate member.
It brings to three the number of maritime associations that have joined the ICS from this region of the continent.
The Liberian Shipowners’ Council and the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping already serve as members.
Inclusion as an associate member of the ICS is seen as recognition of the GCS’s standing as the body to represent Ghana’s maritime matters, especially as the Chamber has only been in existence since 2018.
Said ICS secretary general Guy Platten: “I am delighted to welcome the GCS to ICS membership. The whole of the shipping industry faces challenges, from how we can decarbonise our sector to making sure our seafarers have equal access to training and support as we go through the green transition.
“Now more than ever we know the importance of collaboration to achieve our collective goals and tackle pressing issues facing our industry.”
“Pressing issues” mentioned in this regard include piracy, seafarer welfare, training, digitisation, automation, and decarbonisation.”
GCS president Ben Owusu-Mensah said Ghana’s maritime community welcomed the development.
“There is no doubt that Ghana, a formidable maritime nation with strong maritime credentials, stands to benefit immensely from the repertoire of knowledge and information that the ICS shares with its members towards resolving the multifaceted maritime industry challenges.”
It’s not the first time in recent weeks that the praises are being sung for Ghana’s maritime progress.
In July it was reported (https://tinyurl.com/3247cba5) that a South African passion fruit producer, Roslesia Farming, had decided to move its granadilla operations to Ghana.
The principal reason for the Lowveld grower’s relocation is the throughput success recorded at Ghana’s ports of Tema and Takoradi compared to ongoing delays at local ports such as Durban - and resulting profit loss.
It was emphasised that public as well as private-sector interests from Ghana’s maritime industry had enabled Roslesia’s investor development with relative ease.
