Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has issued a strong call for increased regional cooperation and investment in Africa’s transportation sector during his visit to Istanbul, Turkey, where he joined fellow Transport Ministers to discuss the future of port development and continental connectivity.
Speaking at the high-level dialogue, Hon. Nikpe stressed Ghana’s pivotal role in the West African subregion and the necessity for African nations to transcend national boundaries and create integrated air, sea, rail, and road transportation infrastructure.
“African economies cannot thrive if our people and goods cannot move freely. It is unacceptable that it’s sometimes easier to travel from Africa to Europe than within Africa itself. We must change that,” he noted.
The Minister cited research indicating that Africa needs more than $130 billion over the next ten years to expand its transport networks, highlighting the critical need for infrastructure investment. He also emphasized the significance of lowering artificial and bureaucratic hurdles that impede travel between nations in the area and harmonizing legislation.
“We cannot afford to sleep on this. If we fail to invest in connecting our people and products, we risk economic stagnation. Africa is rich in resources, blessed with arable land and young people. But we must move what we produce to markets, locally and internationally,” he added.
Hon. Nikpe also noted the inefficiencies at African ports, which often connect more easily to Europe and Asia than to neighboring African countries. He called for a strategic review of port infrastructure to ensure that intra-African trade can flourish.
The Minister suggested creating a robust legislative oversight structure to address the lack of political will and lax enforcement of the ECOWAS free movement protocol, like the European Union model. This, he asserted, would guarantee that regional integration initiatives are implemented rather than only being policy declarations.
He concluded with a rallying message: “Africa is one people with one destiny. We must break the barriers, synchronize our systems, and build the infrastructure that connects us. Only then can we unlock the full potential of our continent.”
Hon. Nikpe’s presence and passionate advocacy at the Istanbul conference reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to playing a leadership role in advancing Africa’s transport and trade integration agenda.
