The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mobility (MATM), Mr. Saïdou SANKARA, representing the Minister of State, presided on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, over the opening ceremony of the Forum of Economic Operators and Stakeholders on Ghana’s Port Operations.
Organized by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), the forum is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen trade relations between Burkina Faso and Ghana. Its objective is to promote business opportunities, facilitate partnerships between the private sectors of both countries, and enhance regional integration through better use of the logistics corridors linking Burkina Faso to Ghana’s ports of Tema and Takoradi.
In his address, Mr. Roland Achille SOW, President of the Special Consular Delegation of the Burkina Faso Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-BF), welcomed the GPHA’s initiative. He recalled that Ghana’s ports are strategic infrastructures for the transport of goods bound for Burkina Faso, given their proximity and accessibility. He urged Ghanaian port authorities to simplify customs and logistics procedures in order to build a win-win partnership beneficial to both economies.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State in charge of Transport, Mr. Saïdou SANKARA delivered the opening speech of the forum, officially launching the proceedings.
In his remarks, Mr. SANKARA emphasized that the forum’s theme reflects a shared commitment to turn logistical challenges into growth opportunities. “This forum offers a unique opportunity to jointly build a partnership based on trust, transparency, and the pursuit of sustainable solutions,” he stated.
He also made several recommendations to the Ghanaian delegation, including:
• Improving the fluidity of transit operations;
• Digitizing procedures for greater transparency and efficiency;
• Promoting road safety and modernizing the fleet of heavy vehicles;
• Strengthening dialogue between public and private stakeholders.
In response, Hon. Johnson Asiedu NKETIAH, Chairman of the Board of the GPHA and head of the Ghanaian delegation, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation. He assured participants that reforms are underway to improve port service efficiency, lower transit costs, and enhance security along logistics corridors.
This forum represents an important milestone in consolidating economic relations between Burkina Faso and Ghana, with the shared goal of facilitating trade flows and invigorating regional logistics chains.
