Government initiates development of logistics policy

The government has initiated moves to develop a comprehensive logistics policy for the country.

The policy, when developed, will inform and guide the logistics service industry, as well as reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nii Lante Vanderpuiye, stated this at the Africa Forum of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) in Accra yesterday.

The three-day forum, organised by CILT Ghana, will provide the platform for discussing and brainstorming on current challenges of logistics and transport facing Africa in order to provide advice on policy options and solutions for African governments.

It has the theme “Reverse logistics: An untapped potential for corporate competitive advantage.” 

It is being attended by 100 stakeholders in the logistics and transport industry in Africa, as well as experts from China and the United Kingdom.

Mr Vanderpuiye said a logistics policy would also increase efficiency in the logistics service market and make the country more competitive through enhanced trade facilitation. 

In addition to the logistics policy, he said, the government was also in the process of developing a comprehensive value chain policy for the country.

“All these measures underscore the importance the government attaches to creating an enabling environment for business activities. The government is also committed to ensuring that all the key actors in the industry bring their expertise to bear on the preparation of these policies,” he said.

The deputy minister said the government was also in the process of implementing an industrial policy on environmental sustainability as a pivotal part of the manufacturing and services sector.

 
Minister of Transport
The Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, acknowledged the positive effects of an integrated transport system on the economy of a country, and said the government, mindful of that, had embarked on a sustained programme to improve upon the country’s transport infrastructure.

She said the government, in the past few years, had embarked on a road network and rail system rehabilitation, expansion and modernisation.

Facilities at the ports, as well as the airports, she added, had also been expanded.

While recognising the importance of transport in the economy, Mrs Attivor also emphasised its negative impact, notably road crashes, and said it was a matter of serious concern.

“Road crashes continue to take a heavy toll on our economy and this calls for a concerted effort from all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to this unacceptable carnage on our roads. We are capable of overcoming the situation and should, therefore, work assiduously to reverse this unacceptable trend,” she said.

 
CILT President
The President of CILT-Ghana, Mr G. D. Mensah, said the forum would provide not only essential knowledge, but also a great opportunity to share experiences in both technical and regulatory issues.

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