By Benjamin Adamafio Commey, GNA
Accra, July 3, GNA – The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has inaugurated a Transport and Logistics Centre to strengthen professional training, applied research, policy development and industry collaboration to boost Ghana’s transport and logistics sector.
The Centre, named after Dr Joseph Kweku Horgle, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Horgle Transport and Logistics, a leading Haulage Company, is expected to serve as a hub for executive education, professional certification, industry-focused research and policy engagement, while bridging the gap between academia, government and industry.
It would also undertake research to improve transport systems, develop supply chain solutions, promote sustainable logistics and prepare professionals to meet the demands and opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the inauguration in Accra, on Friday, Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, Vice Chancellor of UPSA, said the establishment of the Centre was a response to a long-standing national need to professionalise Ghana’s transport and logistics workforce.
“We celebrate the birth of the J.K. Horgle Transport and Logistics Centre. Just like every child, this one did not happen by accident. It was conceived in response to a national need that has waited for far too long,” he said.
Prof. Mawutor said the Centre would help close the gap between academia and industry by generating research, developing supply chain literature and producing professionals capable of addressing emerging challenges within the sector.
The Vice Chancellor said Ghana was strategically positioned to become the logistics hub of West Africa, citing the country’s hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat and increasing cargo volumes at the Tema and Takoradi ports.
He commended Dr Horgle for funding the Centre’s research activities and supporting its establishment.
Prof. Mawutor also announced plans to introduce practical driving training for UPSA students through an existing collaboration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), enabling interested students to acquire driving skills before graduation.
He encouraged students to take advantage of career opportunities in agricultural logistics, warehousing, freight forwarding, logistics technology, fleet management and green logistics.
Mrs Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Deputy Minister of Transport, described the Centre as a major step towards addressing critical gaps in transport planning, logistics management and policy implementation.
She identified skills shortages, inadequate industry data and weak collaboration among academia, government and industry as key challenges facing Ghana’s transport sector.
“The Ministry of Transport sees this Centre as a strategic partner and not just a building,” she said.
Mrs Affo-Toffey said the Ministry expected the Centre to become a leading institution for professional training, evidence-based research, policy support and industry partnerships.
She urged the Centre to prioritise digital transformation, artificial intelligence, GPS-enabled fleet management, predictive maintenance and environmentally sustainable transport solutions in its teaching and research.
She also called on transport companies, petroleum marketing firms, development partners and financial institutions to support the Centre through internships, scholarships, research funding and professional mentorship.
Dr. Joseph Kweku Horgle said the naming of the Centre after him reflected his lifelong commitment to professionalism, safety and integrity in the transport industry.
“My journey in this industry began with a simple dream to build a legacy of reliability and integrity,” he said.
Dr. Horgle said his vision had always been to elevate professional driving into a respected profession supported by formal education and internationally recognised standards.
He said the Centre would train a new generation of transport professionals while promoting road safety and operational excellence across Ghana and the West African sub-region and expressed the hope that it would become “a place where excellence is born and where the future of Ghana’s logistics is secured.”
The Centre’s programmes will include executive education, professional certification, research and specialised training in petroleum logistics, fleet management, transport operations, warehousing, customs and freight forwarding, corridor compliance, defensive driving, low-carbon logistics and digital supply chain management.
It will also collaborate with regulators and industry stakeholders to ensure its programmes remain aligned with national development priorities while providing students with practical industry exposure and opportunities for professional development.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey
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