In a powerful move to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector, global logistics giant DHL has teamed up with the Sustainable Improvement of Productivity for African Businesses (SIPAB) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Ghana (EuroCham Ghana) to launch a sustainable trade logistics initiative.
The partners hosted a high-level stakeholder meeting in Accra, bringing together leading agribusiness players, smallholder farmers, representatives from the Delegation of the European Union to Ghana, Anchor Management and Trading, and several farmer cooperatives.
The focus of the event was to craft a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective logistics framework aimed at strengthening Ghana’s agricultural value chain at local, regional, and international levels.
Maximilian Effah, DHL Regional Projects Manager – Trade Facilitation, presented DHL Group’s GoTrade initiative, describing it as a “think global, act local” approach.
“With GoTrade we aim to empower SMEs to leverage global trade and help countries with our think global and act local approach,” Effah explained.
“We are enabling SME participation in cross-border trade through capacity building and partnerships, directly contributing towards the economic growth of Ghana.”
Serigne Ndanck Mbaye, Chief Executive Officer of DHL Global Forwarding for West Africa, underscored the importance of this collaboration, emphasizing DHL’s commitment to empowering local agribusinesses. “We have very ambitious plans for SMEs in Ghana,” he said.
“Basically our goal is to build the capacities of Ghanaian SMEs and support their competitiveness in global trade. This also includes demonstrating to SMEs how to leverage regional trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme – for them to gain more market share in the sub-region.”
Adding to this, Morgan Uloko, CEO of DHL Express Ghana, elaborated on DHL’s continuous efforts to create value for small businesses.
He highlighted how trade facilitation, innovative technologies, and capacity building reduce operational costs and risks for SMEs.
Uloko also explained the crucial role of proper packaging, particularly how it affects volumetric weight when shipping.
Jimmy Eko-Acquah, Project Manager for SIPAB, spoke with urgency about addressing Ghana’s agricultural trade logistics challenges.
“This effective trade logistics initiative will consolidate agribusinesses, increase their market power, reduce the cost of goods and increase the competitiveness of Ghanaian products in local and global markets,” he said.
“It will promote regional connectivity by enabling the easy flow of goods through strategic partnerships and investments.” Representing EuroCham Ghana, Mr. Andrea Ghia reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to supporting Ghana’s agricultural sector through its agribusiness platform, which promotes trade and investment between Europe and Ghana.
Ghia emphasized the importance of local agribusinesses and smallholder farmers forming consortia to boost their bargaining power for fair wages, financing, and market prices.
Thelma Maclean, an entrepreneur from Anchor Management and Trading, reflected on the kinds of support local agribusinesses urgently need.
She pointed out the need for more development initiatives, capacity-building programs, help in securing agricultural certifications, and stronger connections between local industries, markets, and investors.
Such support, she noted, would provide access to vital resources like production inputs, processing plants, warehouses, and cold chains.
The meeting concluded on a collaborative note, with all stakeholders agreeing to pool their efforts and resources to support this long-term initiative.
Together, they aim to empower SMEs and unlock Ghana’s full export potential, setting a new benchmark for sustainable agricultural trade logistics in the region.
