Such a move should move beyond general recommendations, and the technical committees should use their deliberations to develop practical projects capable of attracting funding and being implemented across member ports.

The committees include the committees on Maritime Security, Environmental Protection and Operations (MSEPO); Technical Studies, Infrastructures and Development (TSID) and Liaison Officers (LOs).

Mr Koffi The Secretary-General made the call at the opening of a joint meeting of the three technical committees in Tema, hosted by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

He said the maritime sector was operating in an increasingly complex environment characterised by evolving security threats, climate change, technological advancement and changing regulatory requirements, making regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing essential.

He noted that the Maritime Security, Environmental Protection and Operations Committee was expected to focus on emergency preparedness, business continuity, maritime security, environmental protection and the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) decarbonisation agenda.

The Technical Studies, Infrastructure and Development Committee, he said, would examine the adaptation of port infrastructure to changing trade patterns, including port-city coexistence, land pressures, terminal expansion and the increasing need to accommodate larger container vessels.

The Liaison Officers Committee, meanwhile, would focus on partnerships, including public-private partnerships, strengthening networks and implementing its 2026 action plan.

Mr Koffi said the three committees had different mandates but shared a common objective of enabling ports to “anticipate, adapt and cooperate”.

The Secretary-General highlighted also the West Africa Sustainable Ports Programme (WASP), a €54 million European Union initiative covering 13 coastal countries over five years, aimed at supporting the blue economy and sustainable port development in the region.

He said the programme provided an opportunity for member ports to translate their deliberations into projects eligible for funding, particularly in areas such as green infrastructure, climate adaptation, ecosystem protection and port resilience.

For the Maritime Security, Environmental Protection and Operations Committee, he proposed the development of pilot business-continuity action plans and regional approaches to the green transition.

The technical committee, he said, should develop a catalogue of solutions for terminal diversification and adaptation of dock infrastructure to accommodate larger vessels.

He called also for implementation of the 2026 action plan of the Liaison Officers Committee, supported by mechanisms for monitoring and sharing best practices among member ports.