Emissions inventories for select African countries

Shipping and Oceans team
3 days ago
4 min read

London, 24 April 2026 — A new study from the Professional African Technical Network Advisory (PATNA) Initiative and UCL Shipping and Oceans Research Group establishes Ghana's first voyage-based GHG emissions inventory, indicating a stable trend from 2018 to 2023 of how bulk carriers and container ships are the dominant contributors to emissions at Tema and Takoradi ports.

Ghana has since drawn on these findings in the development of the country's National Action Plan (NAP), a testament to the value of nationally derived data in informing evidence-based policymaking. Findings from this study raised the importance of food systems' impacts as a non-negotiable impact consideration in any ambition to reduce GHG emissions from ships. The study makes plain what compliance costs under the IMO Net-Zero Framework will mean for the essential commodities that Ghanaian communities and many other African nations depend on most.

This report of the assessment of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from Ghana’s international shipping activities presents interesting findings on the country’s international maritime emissions profile. The assessment found the major import port—the Tema Port, and the vessels that transport essential commodities including bulk carriers, container and reefer vessels to be leading in energy demand and CO2 generation. This shows on face value, the potential negative impacts that the GHG measures could have on Ghana’s trade, food security and consumer prices. At the same time, the findings are significant in revealing where efforts could be directed through a national strategy to tackling emissions and addressing the impacts of the GHG measures. By estimating emissions by trade with partnering countries, the assessment further gives an indication of how regional/international initiatives and collaboration are crucial to addressing emissions along relevant maritime trade corridors.

Numbu Issahaque Sumabe, Senior Maritime Officer (UCL LEAP Study Country Focal Point), Environment & Safety Standards Unit, Ghana Maritime Authority.

This report, developed in collaboration with key national maritime institutions and supported by validated datasets and AIS records, provides a sound basis for analyzing voyage-based greenhouse gas emissions. The findings indicate that bulk carriers and container vessels calling at Tema Port are the main contributors to carbon dioxide emissions, reflecting Ghana’s trade patterns, including imports, exports, and growing transshipment traffic to landlocked countries. Similar trends observed across neighbouring coastal states highlight shared regional dynamics and exposure to global regulatory frameworks. These insights underscore the importance of a coordinated regional response, supported by strong data and other practical measures for sustainable maritime development.

Augustine Chongaterah, Principal Officer, Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) Unit, Ghana Maritime Authority.

Leading Effective Afro-centric Participation (LEAP) project initiative was developed to provide a technical toolkit for supporting the African member states.

LEAP Phase I project was organised around four interconnected workstreams, each designed to link technical analysis with political strategy in a way that reinforced Africa’s collective position:

National Emission Inventories – Country-level inventories of maritime emissions were developed for Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia, Malawi, Kenya, and Liberia using a combination of port call data and Automatic Identification System (AIS) records. These inventories provided, for the first time, a clear picture of emissions linked to African shipping activities.
Case Studies of Economic Impact – Detailed case studies applied IMO policy scenarios to key national commodities, such as cocoa, crude oil, tobacco, uranium, sesame, fish, and petroleum imports. The work quantified the likely cost impacts of different measures, giving states an evidence base to understand both risks and opportunities.
Interpretation of Global Models – Results from the IMO’s Comprehensive Impact Assessment (undertaken by DNV and UNCTAD) were translated into short, digestible policy briefs. These were tailored to African contexts, allowing negotiators to navigate highly technical material with clarity and confidence.
Regional Convenings & Capacity Building – In-country workshops and consultations were held across the six case study states. These convenings created collaborative spaces for maritime regulators, ministries, universities, and private sector stakeholders to come together, exchange insights, and build consensus ahead of IMO meetings.

Together, these four streams combined to produce Africa’s first technical toolkit for maritime decarbonization—a toolkit that ensured national interests were backed by solid evidence before the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).

LEAP Phase II marks the next stage in a growing African-led initiative aimed at shaping the future of maritime decarbonisation. Building on the foundations laid in Phase I, this phase seeks to deepen Africa’s technical and diplomatic capacity, ensuring that African countries are not only present in global negotiations at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) but also influential in shaping the rules, mechanisms, and funding structures that will guide the transition to net-zero shipping. LEAP Phase II is about enabling a Just Transition: one that reflects Africa’s priorities in food security, economic resilience, and equitable access to new technologies. Through workshops, research, technical analysis, and inclusive engagement, the project positions Africa to lead with evidence, unity, and a clear purpose in the global maritime decarbonisation agenda.

The PATNA Initiative is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting African-centred climate action and energy transition pathways grounded in evidence, collaboration, and institutional understanding. For further information visit: https://thepatna.org/