The centre is aimed at enhancing transport and logistics capacities across West Africa, inject new expertise into local transport markets and equip them to deliver life-saving goods, such as food and medicine, more efficiently throughout the region.

This was contained in a statement copied to the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday.

WFP’s Director of Supply Chain, Alex Marianelli, said bringing together leading players in the sector, such as Carrier Global Corporation, Renault Trucks and Toyota Tsusho, the Government of Ghana and WFP, would set up a first-of-its-kind centre which will offer free online and hands-on training to up to 400 people per year.

He said training would be provided on best practices in road transport, fleet management and the safe transport of temperature-sensitive commodities.

Mr Marianelli stated that trainees would include staff from humanitarian organisations, governments and the local private sector.

WFP’s Director of Supply Chain said over the last couple of years, his outfit had seen how important strong and resilient supply chains were, adding that the training centre was a critical step towards building stronger supply chains in West Africa.

“We are excited to share our knowledge and experience and – through our partners –provide access to the latest knowledge from leading experts,” he added.

He said increased local capacities and expertise in supply chain would, in turn, support WFP’s emergency and resilience-building operations in vulnerable communities across West Africa.

Mr Marianelli said construction of the centre was expected to commence later this year with the financial support of the Government of Japan, on a land donated by the Government of Ghana as part of the existing WFP United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot operations.

He said through the centre, partners and stakeholders aimed to address the challenges hindering the development of the transport sector across West Africa, including lack of training opportunities and limited technical know-how.