Ghana Charts Course Towards National Action Plan For Greener Shipping

Ghana has commenced work to develop a National Action Plan (NAP) to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping, in line with International Maritime Organization IMO’s GHG Strategy.

Spearheaded by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) in collaboration with the IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 Programme, the initiative was kick started at a national workshop this week in Accra, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, and academics.

GMA Director-General Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali hailed the event as a defining moment for Ghana’s maritime sector, stating: “By developing a National Action Plan, we are laying a clear path towards sustainable shipping. We are taking this exercise seriously and will work closely with stakeholders to ensure it is comprehensive and inclusive.”

“With engagement of our national stakeholders and the continuous technical support from IMO and our development partners, we are poised to make meaningful progress in reducing emissions and enhancing our maritime industry’s resilience,” he added.

More than 50 participants engaged in interactive sessions exploring key policy actions across shipping, ports, and energy sectors. Discussions focused on securing financing, strengthening regulations, and boosting capacity-building initiatives to support seafarers and maritime administrators in implementing the NAP and transitioning to low- and zero-carbon shipping.

Dr. Ali emphasized the importance of strong partnerships for Ghana to tap into the expanding maritime job space: “As our population grows, so do opportunities in the maritime sector. The green revolution is happening, and we must join it – not only to reduce emissions but also to unlock economic opportunities and drive sustainable growth.”

Astrid Dispert, GreenVoyage2050 Programme Manager at IMO, underlined Ghana’s leadership in the region: “Ghana’s commitment to a National Action Plan demonstrates strong leadership in embracing this transition and leveraging economic opportunities. Through collaboration and strategic investments, Ghana can bridge the gap in meeting future demands for green jobs and skilled seafarers.”

Beyond policymaking, the GreenVoyage2050 team took its message to the next generation, engaging over 600 students at Accra High School and 75 university students at the Regional Maritime University. The sessions highlighted the growing demand for maritime decarbonization professionals, encouraging students to consider careers in this evolving field.

During a visit to Tema Port, discussions centred on regional cooperation to optimize port operations, reduce congestion, and thereby cut emissions from ships.

GreenVoyage2050 is a major technical cooperation programme initiated by the IMO to assist developing countries in reducing GHG emissions from shipping, aligning with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy. Phase I of GreenVoyage2050 (2020-2023) supported partnering countries in developing policy frameworks and pilot projects to reduce GHG emissions from ships. Phase II (2024-2030) continues and expands this support, leveraging funding from the Governments of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.