Advancing maritime digitalization in West and Central Africa

The digitalization of ports across nine West and Central African countries has been boosted through a regional workshop in Accra, Ghana.

The event was organized by IMO, the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP), and the World Bank, in partnership with the Ghana Maritime Authority.

The key aims of the event included: • Promoting the adoption of the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business, which sets out how shipping and port data are structured and shared electronically to streamline communication; and • Scaling up the implementation of Maritime Single Windows (MSWs) and Port Community Systems (PCSs), which are integrated digital platforms that streamline vessel and cargo clearance, reduce bureaucratic delays, and will help to strengthen Africa’s competitiveness in global maritime trade. A central principle of the workshop was that MSW systems are not standalone digital solutions but core elements of a broader, regionally harmonized trade facilitation ecosystem.

Promoting regional collaboration The workshop convened regional and international institutions committed to translating policy into action, including the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Harbour Masters’ Committee (AHMC), and the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce (AAEC). The workshop was structured around both knowledge sharing and practical capacity building, with 55 participants, including 15 women, from maritime administrations, port authorities, and customs authorities in Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Sierra Leone.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →