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Deputy Transport Minister, Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover has assured government readiness to work with the Union of African Shippers’ Councils to reform the area of trade facilitation and the industrialization agenda of Africa within the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 framework.

He noted that the Nana Addo-led government has already set out measures to ensure an accelerated industrialization drive in Ghana.

“Ghana is pursuing a number of reforms in its port operations and Agriculture sector as a means of ensuring that the country becomes more competitive in the international market and a hub for maritime trade and Agro-food processing” he said

Addressing the closing ceremony at the UASC 8th African Shippers day celebrations in Accra, Mr. Titus Glover noted that - “I am reliably informed that the major points to note in the recommendations reached at this three-day event after your deliberations include; The strengthening of the framework for the implementation and execution of international instruments on Trade Facilitation; The involvement of African Shippers’ Councils in the creation and operations of National Trade Facilitation Committees; Adoption of action programmes incorporating concrete trade facilitation activities in African countries; Ownership and appropriation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) by Shippers Councils in Africa.”

Read Below the full statement…

CLOSING ADDRESS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AT THE UASC 8TH AFRICAN SHIPPERS DAY CELEBRATIONS HELD FROM 22ND -24TH NOVEMBER, 2017, AT THE M.T. ADDICO HALL, GHNANA SHIPPERS’ HOUSE, ACCRA

Madam Chair,
Chairman of the Union of African Shippers Councils,
Secretary General, Union of African Shippers Councils
Chief Executives of UASC Member States
Distinguished Resource Persons
Esteemed Delegates from Sister Countries
Friends from the Media
Distinguish Invited Guest
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very delighted to once again join you for the closing ceremony of the Union of African Shippers Councils’ 8TH African Shippers’ Day celebration under the theme: Trade facilitation and its Impact on Africa’s Industrialization Agenda.

I am very confident that your deliberations have been very fruitful and a number of the major issues pertaining to how Africa can leverage on Trade Facilitation and trade promotion to reindustrialize its economies and enjoy the benefits of international trade have been discussed and recommendations made.

Madam Chair,
Let me take this opportunity to once again commend the effort of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority in successfully hosting this 8th African Shippers Day. As the Minister in charge of the Transport sector, I am privy to the enormous effort that has contributed to the success of this event and I wish to thank all those who have contributed in diverse ways towards the success of the 8TH African Shippers’ Day celebration.

I wish to also express my appreciation and that of the Government of Ghana to the Union of African Shippers Councils for their show of confidence in nominating Ghana to host the 8th African Shippers Day.

Madam Chair,
In my Address at the opening of this event, I made the point that the process of industrialization must be supported by the implementation of effective trade facilitation measures to transform the economies of the continent and create jobs for the growing working youth and ultimately ensure accelerated socio-economic growth of the continent.

Improvement in transport infrastructure remains not only a key requirement for trade facilitation but a catalyst to quicken the pace of industrialization of Africa. As a continent, Africa must therefore ensure that transport and trade policy frameworks are implemented with the aim to boost Africa’s regional and international trade performance.

The Government of Ghana is committed to working with the Union of African Shippers’ Councils to undertake urgently needed reforms in the area of trade facilitation and the industrialization agenda of Africa within the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 framework.

As already mentioned by my co-speakers at the Opening Ceremony, the Government of Ghana under President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, has introduced a number of policy measures to ensure an accelerated industrialization drive in Ghana.

Ghana is pursuing a number of reforms in its port operations and Agriculture sector as a means of ensuring that the country becomes more competitive in the international market and a hub for maritime trade and Agro-food processing.

I am reliably informed that the major points to note in the recommendations reached at this three-day event after your deliberations include;

1. The strengthening of the framework for the implementation and execution of international instruments on Trade Facilitation;

2. The involvement of African Shippers’ Councils in the creation and operations of National Trade Facilitation Committees;

3. Adoption of action programmes incorporating concrete trade facilitation activities in African countries;

4. Ownership and appropriation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) by Shippers Councils in Africa.

To this end I wish to assure the Union of African Shippers Councils (UASC) that the Ghana of Government will study the recommendations reached at this year’s celebration and champion them at the highest level of the African Union to ensure that Africa sees rapid growth and development in its efforts to ensure sustainable socio-economic upliftment of its people.

As a founding member of the Union of African Shippers Councils, Ghana will continue to play its role at both the National, Regional and International level towards addressing the challenges facing shippers of Africa in an effort to address trade imbalances and fragmentations that compromise our ability to compete favourably in the global market.

Madam Chair,
Let me conclude by once again expressing my gratitude to all our distinguished Chief Executives of Shippers Councils and delegates from sister countries for their enthusiastic participation in the 8th Africa Shippers Day celebration held here in Ghana.

I have no doubt that you have enjoyed the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality and I look forward to interacting with you in the near future.
I wish you all traveling mercies back to your countries.

I thank you for your kind attention.