By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Dec. 23, GNA – Mr. Dominic Eyiah, President of the National Association for Heavy-Duty Equipment Operators Ghana (NAHEOG), has underscored the need for Africa’s logistics future not only to be fast but prioritise resilience, safe and adaptable logistics systems, particularly in the face of global supply chain disruptions, climate shocks and rising trade demands.
He said speed alone could not sustain economic growth on the continent.
Mr. Eyiah added that this meant that equipment must be maintained to global standards; operators trained to anticipate risk rather than merely react to it, and safety treated as productivity, not a cost.
The President of NAHEOG was speaking at the 9th graduation ceremony for forklift and mobile crane operators in Accra, under the theme, “Accelerating Africa’s Economy with an Improved Logistics Industry.”
The event, which was organised by the NAHEOG in partnership with the Regional Maritime University (RMU), saw 27 and 16 students graduate as mobile crane operators and forklift operators respectively.
The Association, together with the RMU, has so far graduated over 400 students since the program started.
Mr. Eyiah described logistics as a critical but often invisible driver of economic development, noting that while efficient logistics go unnoticed, failures in the system could cripple entire economies.
“The difference between prosperous and struggling economies globally is largely determined by logistics performance, not the availability of resources or ambition,” he added.
Mr. Eyiah explained that inefficient logistics could increase the cost of goods by as much as 30 to 50 per cent, while improved logistics reduced costs, boosted productivity and strengthened investor confidence without requiring additional resources.
He emphasised that logistics should therefore be seen as a strategic advantage rather than a support function.
The President of NAHEOG described the role of heavy-duty equipment operators as the “hidden backbone” of logistics systems, responsible for translating infrastructure investments into real economic outcomes.
He noted that while discussions often focused on technology and automation, skilled professionals remained central to the movement of goods, construction of infrastructure and smooth functioning of supply chains.
Mr. Eyiah said speed without resilience made supply chains fragile, adding that a single accident could shut down an entire supply chain, while a well-trained operator could avert such losses.
He said the certification of the graduates marked a shift from informal operations to professional, world-class logistics standards, signalling Africa’s readiness to deliver reliable supply chain services comparable to any region in the world.
Mr. Eyiah urged the graduates to see their roles as central to Africa’s economic future, adding that safe, precise and responsible operations reduced costs, increased capacity and built trust in African supply chains.
Dr. Jethro W. Brooks Jnr, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of RMU, said the event marked not just the completion of training, but the beginning of the graduates’ roles as key contributors to Africa’s economic transformation.
He noted that logistics remained the backbone of trade, industrialisation and regional integration across the continent.
The Ag. Vice Chancellor of RMU urged the graduates to uphold professionalism, discipline and safety as they entered the industry.
“Congratulations for your perseverance. Use your expertise to drive efficiency and innovation in Africa’s logistics sector. You are vital to the continent’s economic future,” he stressed.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade