By Eamonn Ryan derived from the webinar.
The Global Cold Chain Foundation (GCCF) recently completed an important study on the cold chain sector in West Africa, specifically in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. The webinar that accompanied the study highlighted the findings and recommendations from the assessment. This is part two of a 14-part series covering a webinar on this topic.
The webinar featured a panel of experts, including Greg Laurin from Conestoga Cold Storage, Nicholas Pedneault from Congebec, Roudy Akiki from CT-Technologies, and GCCF Africa’s own Paul Matthew, Amanda Brondy and Madison Jaco.
As part of the project’s next steps, GCCF will implement technical assistance programmes, conduct study tours and organise consultations to further develop cold chain expertise and strengthen the region’s cold storage capabilities. This will be accompanied by a mentorship programme to foster knowledge exchange with established cold chain operators worldwide.
Through this collaborative effort, GCCF and its partners aim to create a more robust cold chain infrastructure in West Africa, ultimately improving food safety, reducing food loss and boosting the region’s trade capabilities, including the importation of US perishable products.
As part of the ongoing study of the cold chain sector in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, GCCF experts observed and assessed key infrastructure elements, such as ports, airports and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), to understand the region’s cold chain capabilities and challenges.
In terms of airport infrastructure, while airports in the region are relatively small, many have new facilities. Most airports are government-owned but may be operated by private or public entities. Notably, there are few cold chain operators at the international airports in West Africa, with most cold storage activities concentrated at the ports.
The primary international airports in Ghana (Kotoka International), Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan International), and Senegal (DSS Airport) have minimal infrastructure for handling perishable goods. While there is some interest from both the public and private sectors to develop cold chain infrastructure at these airports, it is insufficient to meet the current demand for critical volumes of perishables. For example, Kotoka International Airport in Ghana has limited infrastructure for handling perishables, although there is interest in expanding it. Similarly, Abidjan’s airport has some cold chain infrastructure but not enough to support high volumes of perishable products. In Senegal, the DSS Airport near Dakar handles both passenger and cargo, but cold chain logistics are almost nonexistent. An older airport in the centre of Dakar continues to handle cargo, but it does not play a significant role in the country’s cold chain market.