The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, has cautioned that Ghana could see a sharp decline in international ship traffic in the coming years if it fails to adopt greener port infrastructure and refueling systems.
Speaking during a briefing with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transportation, Dr. Kamal-Deen stressed that the global maritime industry is shifting rapidly toward clean energy, and ports that continue to rely on fossil fuels risk being excluded from international shipping routes.
“The transition is happening, whether we like it or not,” he said. “In the next few years, ships calling at our ports will expect access to green fuels, not the carbon-heavy options currently available. It’s no longer optional, it’s becoming an industry standard.”
Dr. Kamal-Deen underscored the urgency for Ghana to invest in sustainable infrastructure, warning that failure to do so could undermine the country’s maritime and offshore oil and gas sectors.
He added that many vessels may start bypassing Ghana’s ports altogether if they don’t offer cleaner fuel alternatives. This, he explained, was because modern ships are increasingly powered by green fuels as part of a global push to reduce emissions.
“This has major implications for our economy. We must mobilize resources quickly and act through our ministry and the executive to position Ghana competitively in this transition,” he said.
