Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Professor Ransford Gyampo, is advocating for the establishment of a national shipping line.
He noted that if Ghana is considering reviving a national airline, it should equally explore owning a shipping line to boost trade and maritime independence.
“There are discussions that we should have, Ghana Airways and national carriers operating our airspace. In that same way, I believe that as we surmount that challenge, we have to move towards a situation where Ghana would also have its ships and all that,” he proposed.
Prof. Gyampo acknowledged that the idea is capital-intensive but believes it is achievable with the right leadership and commitment.
“It’s a capital-intensive idea, but I believe that if we can think about having national airlines, we can also have national ships. We’re a developing continent. With the right decisions and right leaders, some of these things should be surmounted,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama, on July 10, expressed Ghana’s interest in partnering with the Portuguese government to establish a national airline as part of efforts to boost the country’s aviation and economic sectors.
He made the remarks during a ceremony at the Jubilee House to receive letters of credence from five newly accredited ambassadors to Ghana, including Maria Da Conceição de Sousa Pilar, the new Portuguese envoy.
In his interaction with the Portuguese ambassador, President Mahama noted the strategic importance of deepening bilateral relations with Portugal, particularly in aviation, trade, and investment.