ECOWAS, AU Push Green Ports Agenda to Cut Maritime Emissions in Africa

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union have stepped up efforts to drive Africa’s transition to sustainable maritime systems, convening a high-level continental workshop in Abuja to align strategies on green ports development and maritime decarbonization.

The two-day Continental Validation Workshop on Green Ports Guidelines and Maritime Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction brought together senior policymakers, maritime institutions and technical experts from across Africa at the ECOWAS headquarters to deliberate on the implementation of the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter and strengthen the continent’s response to climate challenges in the maritime sector.

Opening the session, ECOWAS Director of Transport Chris Appiah stressed the need for Africa’s maritime industry to adapt to global sustainability trends without compromising trade efficiency and development priorities.

“Efficiency, operational capacity and trade facilitation must remain at the core of Africa’s response, even as the continent advances towards greener maritime systems,” he said while speaking on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray.

Appiah reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to strengthening maritime governance, upgrading port infrastructure and supporting member states in building resilient and competitive transport systems.

From the continental perspective, the Head of Maritime Transport at the African Union Commission, Raissa‑Julie Ada Allogo, called for stronger coordination among African countries to ensure the continent speaks with one voice in global maritime negotiations.

“This is the time for Africa to speak with one voice to ensure that the transition towards decarbonization remains inclusive, realistic and aligned with the capacities of our Member States,” she said.

Allogo highlighted the importance of the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter, describing it as a key instrument for modernising maritime governance and strengthening cooperation across African maritime institutions.

Regional maritime organisations also weighed in on the discussions. The Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Paul Adalikwu, said green port development should be seen not only as an environmental necessity but also as a strategic investment that could enhance efficiency and competitiveness across African ports.

Similarly, the Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (MOESNA), Kassim Kaziba Mpaata, urged African countries to strengthen maritime capacity in order to reduce dependency on external systems and better withstand global disruptions.

Adding a regulatory perspective, the Secretary-General of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Sunday M. Umoren, stressed that adherence to international maritime standards is critical to maintaining Africa’s role in global shipping networks and avoiding higher operational costs.

Development partners also reaffirmed support for the initiative. Speaking on behalf of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Bekele Essete Abebe described ports as the backbone of global supply chains and emphasised that investments in sustainable and resilient port infrastructure are essential for Africa’s economic transformation.

“Ports remain the backbone of global supply chains, and investing in sustainable and resilient port infrastructure is central to Africa’s economic transformation and climate response,” she said.

Technical sessions during the workshop focused on validating a Handbook and Guidelines on Green Ports in Africa, developed through consultations across member states. The framework identifies priority actions including renewable energy integration, electrification of port operations, digitalisation, emissions monitoring, climate resilience and adoption of cleaner fuels.

Experts noted that the transition to green ports should be viewed not simply as an environmental initiative but as a broader economic and operational transformation that can improve efficiency, strengthen trade competitiveness and enhance resilience across African maritime systems.

The workshop continued with working sessions aimed at consolidating member states’ inputs and developing a coordinated roadmap for implementing the guidelines across the continent.

Officials said the outcome of the meeting is expected to strengthen Africa’s maritime governance framework, improve port performance and position the continent as a proactive actor in the global shift toward sustainable and decarbonised maritime transport.

ECOWAS, AU Push Green Ports Agenda to Cut Maritime Emissions in Africa