Mr. Stanley R. K. Ahorlu, President of the Chamber, made the call at a stakeholder forum on maritime transport organised by the Chamber in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport. The forum was held under the theme: "Streamlining Ghana's Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector for Transparency, Efficiency, and Competitiveness."

Mr. Ahorlu observed that Ghana remained a net importer of maritime services, citing the 2023 maritime profile published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). 
The report revealed that Ghana imported about US$2.4 billion worth of maritime services, while exports amounted to only US$426 million, creating a trade deficit of US$1.9 billion.

"This means that nearly two billion dollars is leaving the country to pay for maritime transport services, resources that could have been retained locally with stronger domestic participation," he stressed.

While acknowledging that the global shipping industry is dominated by multinational companies, Mr. Ahorlu said Ghana could strengthen its role in the logistics value chain, particularly in areas linking ports to the hinterlands. To do so, however, government must provide incentives and facilitate access to affordable capital for Ghanaian operators.

He explained that local companies were disadvantaged because while multinational firms borrow internationally at interest rates of less than six percent, Ghanaian firms face borrowing costs of 11-12 percent on the dollar. "If you borrow locally, you cannot compete. Government support is needed to level the playing field," he added.

Mr. Ahorlu further noted that the issue had security implications, warning that Ghana's overdependence on foreign- controlled maritime transport reduced national economic control. He recalled that Ghana's first post-independence government invested in ports, a national shipping line, and shipyards precisely because of the strategic importance of controlling maritime trade, remarking: 
"He who controls the sea controls the world."

Touching on sector reforms, he said the absence of a comprehensive maritime transport policy remained a major gap, despite the 2020 National Transport Policy's vision of establishing Ghana as a transport hub for West Africa.

He highlighted other outstanding issues including the need for a robust regulatory framework underpinned by a national maritime policy, the creation of a reliable maritime transport database, stronger consumer protection laws, and economic regulations that promote local content.

Mr. Ahorlu urged stakeholders to work with government in addressing these gaps, stressing that maritime transport was critical to Ghana's economy and its future industrial growth.