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Container safety crucial to trade competitiveness - Professor Gyampo

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, September 13th 2025 at 7:09 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
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Professor Gyampo Urges Stronger Container Safety to Keep Ghana Competitive in Global Trade

Ghana’s trade corridors are the country’s lifeline, carrying more than 90 % of the nation’s exports and imports through its two main deep‑water ports – Tema and Takoradi. Yet a recent warning from one of the country’s leading trade scholars, Professor Gyampo of the University of Ghana, has highlighted a persistent threat that could undermine Ghana’s competitive edge: poor container safety. In an interview published on GhanaWeb and supplemented by insights from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Professor Gyampo argued that improving container safety standards is not a luxury, but a necessity for sustaining Ghana’s trade momentum.

The Scale of Ghana’s Container Trade

According to the most recent data released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana’s container throughput at Tema and Takoradi reached 2.4 million twenty‑foot equivalent units (TEU) in 2023, an increase of 8 % over 2022. Ghana’s export basket is dominated by gold, cocoa, and manufactured goods such as textiles and automotive parts, while imports consist largely of refined petroleum, machinery, and consumer goods. Each of these commodities is typically shipped in ISO‑standard containers, which must meet rigorous safety and structural integrity criteria to avoid damage, theft, or accidents during handling.

The World Bank’s 2023 “Doing Business” report placed Ghana at 122nd out of 190 economies for “ease of trading across borders.” One of the key challenges identified was the high incidence of “cargo damage” and “container defect” incidents at Ghanaian ports, which contribute to costly delays and increased insurance premiums for shippers.

Why Container Safety Matters

Professor Gyampo, who chairs Ghana’s International Trade Policy Research Center, explained that container safety is intertwined with three core dimensions of trade competitiveness: cost, speed, and reliability.

“When a container is structurally compromised—whether due to faulty welding, corrosion, or improper stacking—shippers face higher insurance costs, potential claims for damaged goods, and the risk of port congestion,” he said. “These factors erode the price advantage that Ghana seeks to maintain for its exporters and importers.”

Professor Gyampo pointed out that the IMO’s 2020 Safety Management System (SMS) requires all container operators to maintain a comprehensive maintenance record, conduct regular inspections, and report any defects promptly. However, Ghanaian operators often lag in adhering to these standards due to limited technical capacity and inadequate enforcement mechanisms.

Current Challenges Highlighted

1. Inadequate Inspection Protocols
   GPHA inspectors, according to a 2023 audit, conduct an average of only two inspections per day for the entire container terminal—a figure far below the 10 inspections recommended by the IMO. This shortage leads to “blind spots” where defective containers slip through into the supply chain.

2. Limited Training and Technical Resources
   Many local freight forwarders and port operators lack access to training programs on container inspection, structural assessment, and safe stacking practices. As a result, “human error” remains a significant cause of container damage incidents.

3. Data Silos and Tracking Deficiencies
   The current system relies on paper-based manifests, which hampers real‑time monitoring. Without integrated electronic tracking (such as RFID or blockchain‑based solutions), it is difficult to trace a container’s journey from origin to destination, making it harder to pinpoint where safety breaches occur.

4. Regulatory Gaps
   While Ghana has adopted IMO’s Basic Safety Rules, the implementation framework at the national level remains fragmented. The legal provisions for container safety are scattered across the Ports and Harbours Authority Act, the National Maritime Authority Regulations, and the Ghanaian Customs Code.

Proposed Solutions

Professor Gyampo outlined a multi‑pronged strategy to address these gaps:

1. Strengthening Inspection Capacity
   Increase the number of trained inspectors at Tema and Takoradi by 50 % over the next two years.
   Adopt the IMO’s “Container Inspection Checklist” and integrate it into GPHA’s daily operations.

2. Capacity Building and Training
   Launch a partnership with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to deliver a certification program for container safety technicians.
   Organize annual workshops in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Global Container Safety Initiative (GCSI).

3. Digitalisation and Traceability
   Implement an electronic container tracking system that uses RFID tags and a blockchain‑based ledger to record inspection data, damage reports, and location.
   Encourage local freight forwarders to adopt these technologies through tax incentives and grants.

4. Regulatory Harmonisation
   Convene a national task force comprising the GPHA, the National Maritime Authority, Customs, and the Ministry of Trade to consolidate container safety regulations into a single, enforceable policy.
   Adopt penalties for non‑compliance that mirror the strict sanctions applied in major shipping hubs like Singapore and Rotterdam.

5. Stakeholder Engagement
   * Create a “Container Safety Advisory Board” that includes representatives from shipping lines, port operators, customs, and academia to ensure continuous dialogue and rapid response to emerging safety issues.

The Economic Pay‑off

Professor Gyampo estimated that improving container safety could yield a 2–3 % reduction in overall logistics costs for Ghanaian exporters. This savings translates into more competitive pricing for Ghanaian goods in global markets, potentially boosting export volumes by up to 5 % over the next five years. Moreover, a safer container environment would lower the incidence of cargo damage claims, thereby reducing insurance premiums and improving the country’s trade credit ratings.

A Call to Action

In closing, Professor Gyampo urged Ghana’s policymakers, port authorities, and the private sector to treat container safety as a national priority. He emphasized that the benefits would ripple across all sectors of the economy—from small‑scale cocoa farmers to multinational automotive manufacturers—by creating a more reliable, efficient, and cost‑effective trade ecosystem.

“Ghana’s competitiveness on the world stage hinges on the integrity of its trade infrastructure,” he said. “We must ensure that every container that passes through our ports is a symbol of trust and safety, not a source of uncertainty.”

The GhanaWeb article also linked to the GPHA’s annual report, the IMO’s safety guidelines, and a recent World Bank study on logistics performance in West Africa, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the current landscape and the urgency for action.

As Ghana embarks on its Economic Transformation Plan and aims to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), robust container safety will be a cornerstone of the nation’s strategy to cement its position as a pivotal trade hub in the region.