Lead circular economy transition efforts - Transport Minister urges stakeholders

Stakeholders in the transport and logistics sector have been urged to take the lead in the development of green skills to help support the country’s transition to a circular economy. 

The Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, explained that the success of the transition hinged on the active participation of all stakeholders, particularly those in the transport and logistics sector.

Specifically, he said they should train individuals and organisations to sharpen their skills for the carbon-neutral economy.

"The transition to a green and circular economy requires the participation of all stakeholders, government, private sector, civil society, and the general public.

“Government is committed to leading the way by creating an enabling environment, but the active engagement of logistics operators, vehicle manufacturers, service providers, and the general public is crucial for success,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation at the Ministry of Transport, Irene Messiba, at the Ghana Logistics and Transport conference in Accra today (Oct 22). 

Conference

Organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Ghana, the conference was on the theme, “Logistics and transport in the green and circular economy”.

 The participants

Various operators in the industry also had the opportunity to exhibit their products and services at the event, which also served as CILT’s annual general meeting.

The conference provided a platform to foster discussions on sustainable practices.

It featured various discussions on skills for green jobs, strategic role of the private sector in championing Ghana’s transport logistics transformation, enhancing pipeline safety and efficiency through digital innovation, among other areas.

New members were inducted into the institute.

Key among the participants were the Executive Group Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, Dr Daniel McKorley; CILT International President, Chief Teete Owusu-Nortey; CILT International President-Elect, Jan Steenberg, and CILT Ghana President, Mark Amoamah.

The sector minister said with the announcement of a waiver of import duties on electric vehicles designated for public transportation for the next eight years, the public would help the government to boost the uptake of electric vehicles in the country.

By doing so, he said that would help promote the decarbonisation of the transport sector within the context of a global call for a Net-Zero Emission Future.

Commitment

Mr Amoamah explained that the collective commitment of stakeholders to facilitate efficient, resilient and eco-friendly logistics and supply chain operations could significantly contribute to the sustainable global agenda.

"By embracing the principles of the circular economy, we can transform our practices, design systems that minimise waste and make the most of our resources and consequently meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," he said.

For his part, Chief Owusu-Nortey expressed concern that in spite of the Supply Chain, Logistics and Transportation profession being a major employer, the sector had been undervalued.

That, he said, made it difficult to encourage new talents and professionals into the profession.

He, however, proposed November 3 as the International Day to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution the industry played in the society as part of his legacy proiects as President.