Ongoing disruptions in global shipping routes have highlighted Africa’s heavy dependence on external trade systems, with experts calling for urgent reforms to strengthen intra-continental commerce and reduce exposure to global shocks.
At a media engagement organised by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, officials from the Ghana Shippers Authority stressed that the current situation presents both a risk and an opportunity for African economies to rethink their trade strategies.
Mr Fred Asiedu Dartey, a freight and logistics expert with the GSA, noted that Africa’s intra-regional trade remains significantly low—about 15 per cent—compared to much higher levels in Europe and Asia, leaving the continent vulnerable to external disruptions.
He pointed to persistent challenges such as poor infrastructure, regulatory bottlenecks, and weak coordination among countries as key barriers to trade within Africa.
Maritime consultant Francis Kwesi Micah also underscored the need for African countries to diversify supply chains and invest more in local production, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.
He said initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area must go beyond policy frameworks to deliver tangible results that facilitate the movement of goods across borders.
The experts further called for increased investment in regional shipping networks and trade corridors to improve logistics efficiency and strengthen economic resilience.
While advising importers and exporters to review contracts, insure cargo, and prepare for delays, the stakeholders emphasised that long-term solutions lie in building a more self-reliant and interconnected African trade system.
