Increase investments in ports to contain growth - Dr Mbiah urges African governments
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Dr Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah, has called for increased investments in ports and harbours throughout the continent to help contain the strong growth in maritime trade while positioning the continent as the next hub of manufacturing, production and consumption.
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With Asia already showing signs of overheating, Dr Mbiah said at the 10th Anniversary of the General Assembly of the Union of African Shippers’ Councils in Accra that evidence abounded that Africa would be the next spot for industrialisation, hence the need for expansion and modernisation of port infrastructure to meet demand.
The Shippers’ Authority CEO blamed the current low level of intra-African trade on inadequate infrastructure on the continent, which he said needed policies to address.
“Africa’s population is projected to reach two billion in the next decade. The expected growth in population should bring with it the potential for increased growth and prosperity. How do we unleash the potential?” he asked.
“The second golden age of globalisation is on its way, yet Africa still accounts for only three per cent of world trade and has the greatest untapped market in the world. To what extent is Africa preparing itself to assume the reins of the global economy,” he further queried at the event, which was graced by private sector and government officials on the continent.
The event brought together the national executives of the various shipping councils on the continent to deliberate on how to improve intra-trade.
It marked the 39th anniversary of the union, which was established in 1977 as a continental body of shippers’ council in Africa.
Anticipating and addressing change
Commenting further, Dr Mbiah observed that the increase in global trade meant that the waterways on the continent would become more crowded, “especially within straits, enclosed seas and on the new sea routes of the arctic”.
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“The need for ecological balance will more and more engage our attention and there would thus be the need for global regulation to provide direction and decency. Concerns over logistics chain security would be on the increase and so would be the quest for increased trade facilitation,” he said.
He also advised the various governments and shippers’ councils to invest their human capital to help position them for the challenges ahead.
He observed that the railway and road infrastructure in Africa were designed by the colonialist to facilitate the exploitation of the wealth and resources of countries – a psyche that continues to hamper trade.
“Our level of technological penetration in business in an ever-increasing technological world has been all but appreciable. We are still confronted with tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. It is only by our own exertions that we can bring progress, unity and strength into Africa,” he said and further called for unity among the organisation to help achieve its objectives. –GB