Ghana commits to greener shipping in ‘defining moment’ for national maritime sector

February 20, 2025, by Ajsa Habibic

Ghana has joined a growing number of countries committed to greener shipping and initiated work to develop a national action plan (NAP) to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping in line with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) GHG strategy.

The initiative took off in Accra in the first half of February 2025, led by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) in collaboration with the IMO’s GreenVoyage 2050, a program aiming to provide technical assistance, capacity building, and policy support to maritime nations, helping them develop national action plans and undertake feasibility studies for pilot projects.

More than 50 participants engaged in discussions focused on securing financing, strengthening regulations, and boosting capacity-building initiatives to support seafarers and maritime administrators in implementing the NAP and transitioning to low- and zero-carbon shipping.

GMA Director-General Kamal-Deen Ali described the event as a defining moment for Ghana’s maritime sector, stating: “By developing a National Action Plan, we are laying a clear path towards sustainable shipping. We are taking this exercise seriously and will work closely with stakeholders to ensure it is comprehensive and inclusive.

“With engagement of our national stakeholders and the continuous technical support from IMO and our development partners, we are poised to make meaningful progress in reducing emissions and enhancing our maritime industry’s resilience.”

Astrid Dispert, GreenVoyage 2050 Programme Manager at IMO, pointed out that Ghana’s commitment to a national action plan demonstrates “strong leadership” in embracing transition, adding that through collaboration and strategic investments, Ghana can bridge the gap in meeting future demands for green jobs and skilled seafarers.

Phase I of IMO’s GreenVoyage 2050, which lasted from 2020 to 2023, supported partnering countries in developing policy frameworks and pilot projects to reduce GHG emissions from ships.

Phase II started in 2024 and will run until 2030, leveraging funding from the Governments of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Denmark recently joined the program as the new donor, pledging approximately DKK 20 million (about $2.8 million) to the IMO’s GHG TC Trust Fund — a portion of which has been earmarked for activities under the GreenVoyage 2050 program.