Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the country's bulk cargo imports from Russia and Ukraine have decreased by 25%.
Michael Luguje, Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), confirmed this.
According to him, the port's recovery from COVID-19 has been hindered, in part because of a delay in a bulk cargo transport from the two nations into the West African Region.
"No one ever predicted that after COVID-19, we'd have to deal with another tragedy that would have an impact on cargo volumes, forcing initial budgets to be re-evaluated because revenues weren't flowing in as planned," he stated.
Event
Mr Luguje noted that the port business was facing several external issues at the opening session of the seventh meeting of the Board of the Ports Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) and Harbour Masters Network in Tema yesterday[June 21, 2022].
Six board members, harbour masters from ports in the West and Central African Area, and port facility security officials from the PMAWCA region are among the 47 participants attending the meeting.
Various groups will analyse reports on the association's 2021 programmes, including its 2021 audit report, examine and approve the 2022 activity programme, the 2022 budget, and a draught programme for the 42nd meeting of the council during the three-day meeting.
The harbour masters will also discuss their experiences on issues relating to their roles, as well as cooperation agreements between ports and national and regional agencies to promote marine safety and security.
Budgets that have been revised
The reduction in the volumes of bulk cargo, such as wheat, fertiliser, and other products, that was supposed to have come from both Russia and Ukraine and that the GPHA had budgeted as part of its revenue stream for the year, needed to be reviewed, according to Mr Luguje, who is also the President of the PMAWCA.
He emphasised the need of stakeholders in the region developing resilient plans that would allow them to manage their ports without causing irreversible damage to their economy.
He urged the organisation to improve its green ports agenda in order to meet the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) green-house gas emissions aim of reducing carbon emissions from ships.
"Maritime piracy, marine pollution, environmental sustainability, illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, as well as the age-old canker of stowaways, are but a few of the issues that remain common among member ports, for which a redoubling of efforts to nip and curtail them is urgently required," said Mr Isaac Osei, Chairman of the GPHA Board.
Security precautions
Jean Marie Koffi, the PMAWCA's Secretary-General, said the organisation has put in place systems to ensure port security.