On April 21, 2026, the Malian Shippers’ Council and the Ghana Shippers’ Authority signed a memorandum of understanding in Bamako to significantly strengthen cooperation in transport and trade.
This partnership is designed to improve the fluidity of transit, reduce overall logistics costs, and enhance the coordination of goods movement between the two nations. The agreement serves as a central pillar in Ghana’s broader strategy to establish itself as the premier logistics gateway for landlocked Sahelian states, specifically Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, by utilizing the strategically positioned ports of Tema and Takoradi.
The memorandum introduces several practical measures to boost regional trade, including support for logistics operators, the systematic sharing of trade data, joint research initiatives, and the implementation of shared cargo-tracking systems. To ensure these goals are met, a joint technical committee will be established to monitor progress, harmonize transit procedures, and reduce operational disputes. These efforts are intended to mitigate persistent industry hurdles such as excessive inspection delays, complex axle load requirements, and high demurrage charges, all of which have historically inflated transport costs for regional traders.
Ghana is aggressively pursuing this objective through major infrastructure projects, most notably the Boankra Inland Port, which is projected to offer substantial savings for Sahelian importers—estimated at 14% via Tema and up to 48% via Takoradi. These developments are supported by a $1.5 billion expansion of the Port of Tema, which has increased its capacity to approximately 3.7 million containers, and a refined legal framework established in 2024 to better regulate transit costs. Through this collaboration, both nations are working to enhance their competitiveness and secure more reliable, cost-effective trade corridors for the Sahel.
MD/te/Sf/lb/abj/APA