Ghana has confirmed plans to launch a ferry service along the busy Lagos–Abidjan corridor in a move aimed at boosting coastal shipping and easing pressure on the region’s congested road network.
Transport Minister Joseph Nkipe said last month that planning for the project is at an advanced stage, with a marine consultancy firm already appointed to fast-track development. The proposed service, informally dubbed “Afropax,” would mark the first structured maritime passenger and vehicle link of its kind in West Africa.
The ferry route will connect Ghana’s Tema port with key coastal cities in neighbouring Benin, Togo and Nigeria, mirroring the transnational Lagos–Abidjan highway corridor that currently serves as the main artery for regional trade and travel. Authorities say growing congestion, delays and border bottlenecks on the highway are increasingly acting as a trade barrier.
According to estimates, around 15,000 vehicles and more than 500,000 people use the corridor annually, with the bulk of traffic moving between Ghana and Nigeria. The proposed sea route is expected to offer a faster and more reliable alternative, while also helping to cut carbon emissions compared with road haulage.
Initial plans indicate that two low-emission RoPax (roll-on/roll-off passenger) vessels will be deployed. The project will be backed by private investment, with trial operations expected to begin as early as next month. However, further funding will be required to develop passenger and vehicle terminals at selected ports along the corridor, as well as to implement a digital management system for ferry operations.
President John Mahama has pledged government support, describing the initiative as timely and potentially transformative for regional trade. The project aligns with Ghana’s broader strategy to strengthen regional maritime connectivity and position Tema as a key logistics hub in the Gulf of Guinea.
Improving water transport safety is also a key driver. Ferry and boat services in West Africa are often informal and reliant on ageing wooden vessels. Last year alone, hundreds of people died in boat capsizing incidents across the region, with overloading frequently cited as a contributing factor.
Separately, the European Union is funding a major water transport modernisation project in Lagos, a city of about 23 million people. That initiative will span 140 km and include 15 structured ferry routes and the upgrade of 25 ferry terminals, underscoring growing regional momentum toward safer and more sustainable maritime transport.