KEYNOTE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE HON. MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, DORCAS TOFFEY AT THE GREEN SHIPPING CORRIDORS PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY CONSORTIUM INCUBATION WORKSHOP, HELD IN THE GHANA SHIPPERS AUTHORITY CONFERENCE HALL.

 

It is an honour to address you today as Ghana joins global efforts to assess innovative and inclusive pathways to decarbonizing maritime transport.

 

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Let me begin by emphasizing Ghana’s commitment to climate change mitigation. Our climate actions have been guided by our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. The country is also signatory to many relevant international treaties relating to environmental preservation and climate change.

These climate action commitments have been further strengthened under the administration of his Excellency President John Dramani Mahama.

 

For the first time, Ghana has established a Ministry for “Energy and GREEN TRANSITION”, alongside a dedicated Minister for “Climate Change and Sustainability”, which is a clear signal of our resolve as a country.

As the Minister for Transport, with oversight of ports, coastal shipping and inland waterways, I am pleased to acknowledge the efforts of the Ghana Maritime Authority and other key stakeholders who are working diligently to ensure that Ghana is not left behind in the global decarbonization agenda.”

 

As we all know, the shipping industry accounts for approximately 3% of global emissions with the projections indicating a potential rise if urgent action is not taken. At the same time, we are cautious of the cost burdens and implementation challenges associated with the shipping decarbonization measures, especially, for countries like ours that are not historical contributors to the global climate crisis. It is expected that the implementation of the shipping Green House Gas (GHG) measures would lead to negative impacts on GDP, food security, trade, and consumer prices for Ghana and many African countries. Steps must therefore be taken to mitigate these impacts.”

 

Distinguished Participants,
Ghana’s strategic location along the Gulf of Guinea and its vibrant port infrastructure uniquely position us to reduce the risks of the green transition while unlocking opportunities for inclusive national development.

Under the oversight of the Ministry, the Ghana Maritime Authority has been collaborating with other state actors across the ports, energy, shipping sectors among others, to align our national maritime strategies with international sustainability goals.”

 

We commend the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonization roadmap and stand ready to explore collaborative inter-ministerial and global partnerships to ensure a just transition in the maritime industry for Ghana.”

 

Green shipping corridors are pivotal to decarbonizing the maritime sector.

“The Green Shipping Corridors initiative is therefore not merely a concept, it is a transformative commitment to reimagining how we move goods, connect nations, and protect our planet. Ghana is taking initial action to join the more than fifty green corridor projects currently in development globally, beginning with this pre-feasibility study. However, these projects are capital intensive and cannot be undertaken with limited government resources. The Government is therefore committed to providing the policy and regulatory frameworks, while exploring sustainable financing models to support the establishment of green shipping corridors in the country.”

 

“Ports are very integral to the success of green shipping corridors. While our ports in Tema and Takoradi are actively planning to invest inshore power infrastructure, digital traffic management systems, and modernization to accommodate low-emission vessels; the government remains committed to forging new collaborations, unlocking financing for green infrastructure and implementing policies that protect our oceans, and create sustainable green jobs.
Furthermore, green shipping corridors have got regional and international dimensions.

 

The country will therefore consider exploring regional and international cooperation on green corridors to ensure that our country maximizes the benefits of the transition in the industry.”