The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has hosted the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and Convention on Business Integrity-Nigeria (CBi) at a regional maritime conference to promote public-private sector and inter-industry dialogue on tackling corruption at seaports.
The two-day conference facilitated knowledge-sharing sessions with government and private sector players from across the West African sub-region, on global good practices in vessel clearance.
Speaking at the conference’s opening ceremony, Deputy Director-General of GMA, Yaw Akosa, said while seaborne trade continues to expand and the shipping industry is considered a highly efficient mode of transport, corruption has become one of the industry’s main challenges.
Corruption in the maritime sector, he said, not only generates additional operational costs for the industry but also serves as barrier to trade and development. “The workshop led by MACN is thus very critical in providing solutions to the scourge and improving shipping in the sub-region and the world at large,” Mr. Akosa noted.
GMA expressed appreciation to the MACN and its partners for the collaborative efforts in organising the conference to better industry’s prospects.
Representative of MACN, Menon Vivek, said it is important for countries to collaborate and deepen efforts to tackle maritime crimes and make the industry corruption-free. He said the MACN will continue lending its support to ensure better global shipping trade and a robust maritime industry.
Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Tom Norring, said Denmark has been assisting countries in the sub-region to build a robust shipping industry. “Denmark has always been a strong player in the maritime sector globally and in the west African region. The Danish maritime industry is known for its efficiency, and we have helped to replicate some of these technologies in the region,” he said.
Ambassador Norring said the African Continental Free Trade Area presents a historic opportunity to boost intra-African trade through the maritime industry and further reap the sector’s benefits.
The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) is a global business network working toward the vision of a maritime industry free of corruption. The Convention on Business Integrity (CBi) was established in 1997 with the mission of promoting ethical business Practices, transparency and fair competition in the private and public sectors. Signatories of the Convention undertake to observe values of the Code of Business Integrity, both within their own organisations and in their dealings with customers and partners.
