By Sandra Agyeiwaa OTOO
As part of efforts to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector, global logistics company DHL, in partnership with the Sustainable Improvement of Productivity for African Businesses (SIPAB) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Ghana (Eurocham Ghana), hosted a strategic stakeholder engagement meeting with selected agribusinesses and smallholder farmers to discuss a sustainable trade logistics model to support the sector.
The business meeting, held in Accra, brought together key players in Ghana’s agricultural value chain, including representatives from the Delegation of the European Union to Ghana, Anchor Management and Trading, and other farmer cooperatives.
The event focused on an initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural sector by establishing reliable and cost-effective trade logistics systems at local, regional and international levels. The initiative also aimed to improve market access, build capacity and reduce trade barriers.
In a presentation, Maximilian Effah, DHL Regional Projects Manager – Trade Facilitation, outlined DHL Group’s GoTrade initiative, which aims to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to leverage international trade for sustainable and inclusive growth.
He explained th at the program follows a “think global, act local” model, where DHL Group’s global capabilities support trade facilitation initiatives that are locally led and owned by the country.
“With GoTrade we aim to empower SMEs to leverage global trade and help countries with our think global and act local” approach. “We are enabling SME participation in cross-border trade through capacity building and partnerships, directly contributing towards the economic growth of Ghana” he explained.
The Chief Executive Officer of DHL Global Forwarding for West Africa, Mr. Serigne Ndanck Mbaye, acknowledged the partnership with SIPAB and EuroCham Ghana to support agribusinesses and smallholder farmers and reiterated the company’s commitment to empowering local businesses through affordable logistics solutions tailored to the needs of SMEs.
“We have very ambitious plans for SMEs in Ghana. Basically our goal is to build the capacities of Ghanaian SMEs and support their competitiveness in global trade. This also includes demonstrating to SMEs, how to leverage regional trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme – for them to gain more market share in the sub-region,” he said.
Morgan Uloko, CEO of DHL Express Ghana, expanded on DHL’s ongoing efforts to create value and reduce costs and risks for small businesses through trade facilitation, innovative technologies, and capacity building. He also provided insights into how proper packaging by SMEs affects volumetric weight when shipping.
Jimmy Eko-Acquah, Project Manager for the Sustainable Improvement of Productivity for African Businesses (SIPAB), emphasized the urgent need to address the challenges in Ghana’s agricultural trade logistics system that are holding back the sector’s potential.
He added: “This effective trade logistics initiative will consolidate agribusinesses, increase their market power, reduce the cost of goods and increase the competitiveness of Ghanaian products in local and global markets. It will promote regional connectivity by enabling the easy flow of goods through strategic partnerships and investments.”
Mr. Andrea Ghia, the representative of Eurocham Ghana mentioned their commitment to support agriculture in Ghana through their agribusiness platform.
This Agribusiness platform is for the promotion of trade and investment between Europe and Ghana in the sector. He also mentioned the importance of local agribusinesses and smallholder farmers forming consortia to give them the market power to negotiate for fair wages, financing and market prices.
Thelma Maclean, one of the entrepreneurs from Anchor Management and Trading who attended the meeting, also mentioned the support that local agribusinesses and smallholder farmers need from stakeholders and development partners.
This support includes more development initiatives, capacity building programs, assistance in obtaining agricultural certifications, and connecting the local industry to more markets and investors to secure facilities such as production inputs, processing plants, warehouses, and cold chains.
The meeting concluded with all stakeholders agreeing to work together to support this long-term initiative to empower SMEs and unlock their export potential.
