GMA and CWEIC Explore Partnership to Drive Green Shipping Solutions through 3D Manufacturing
This initiative, facilitated by the CWEIC, the business arm of the Commonwealth Secretariat aims to connect Ghana with industry leaders like RusselSmith to modernise the country’s blue economy.
At the heart of this collaboration is the possible introduction of advanced 3D boat manufacturing, offering a sustainable, rapid-deployment alternative to traditional timber-based building, which often contributes to deforestation and high maintenance costs.
The Ghana Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), Dr John Appea who led officials of the Nigerian-based asset management and advanced manufacturing company RusselSmith during a courtesy call on the Director-General of the GMA, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali (Naval Capt Rtd) said the visit sought to promote trade and identify strategic areas of collaboration aimed at opening new opportunities across the West African sub-region.
The Co-founder of RusselSmith, Kayode Adeleke, during discussions pointed out that while the global 3D manufacturing space was valued at approximately $32 billion in 2024, Africa currently accounts for only about two-percent of that market.
Bridging the Gap
To bridge this industrial gap, Mr. Adeleke revealed that RusselSmith is preparing to commission an industrial “Phase Two” 3D factory in Lagos Nigeria, with plans to commence the development of a “Mega Omni” flagship facility in that that country later this year.
He expressed the company’s readiness to establish a similar green boat manufacturing facility in Ghana as an alternative market, capable of rapidly deploying customized 3D-printed vessels up to 12 meters in length. “These vessels are not only more sustainable than traditional wooden boats but are also easier to maintain and faster to deploy,” Mr Adeleke stated.
He added that the initiative would modernize Ghana’s maritime infrastructure, reduce carbon emissions, and solve the long-standing challenge of sourcing critical spare parts for machinery and vessel repairs within the sub-region.
3D manufacturing, Mr Adeleke emphasized, could revolutionise vessel maintenance by allowing critical parts to be printed locally, bypassing the long wait times and high costs associated with international imports. This approach, he maintained also creates a “circular economy” by digitising inventory and potentially refining local raw materials, such as iron ore, into the high-grade powders required for 3D production.
GMA
The Director-General of the GMA, Dr Ali, noted in his remarks that the company’s proposal aligns seamlessly with Ghana’s national transition plan for green fuels and the government’s vision to enhance inland water connectivity.
He emphasised the importance of introducing modern, eco-friendly transport solutions to link the northern sector of the country.
The DG highlighted that the Authority is moving beyond day-to-day operations to prioritise green fuels, citing preliminary discussions with partners from Norway and Denmark. “The GMA is increasingly focused on placing Ghana among the world’s leading ‘Blue Nations’ by prioritising maritime safety and environmental sustainability, and these efforts are being aligned with global environmental standards to reduce the sector’s overall carbon footprint,” Dr Ali said. 
He added that the GMA will lead the technical and professional engagement for these government priorities, which include replacing traditional wooden boats—which have a significant environmental impact with sustainable alternatives to modernize the industry.
The DG further suggested that the partnership with RusselSmith, if endorsed at the board and governmental levels, would offer a professional and technical engagement capable of handling the larger industrial needs of the sector while the Ministry manages policy-level issues.
Dr Ali also stressed that the environmental impact of traditional wooden boat construction makes the shift to 3D-printed alternatives a high priority for the GMA, as such, “the Authority will begin internal board-level discussions to appoint a focal person to interface with the company on the technical feasibility of the project”, Dr Ali pointed out.
Eco-friendly Operations
The Deputy Director-General of the GMA, Mubarick Masawudu, noted that the maritime industry has reached a critical turning point where freight and logistics companies are increasingly pivoting toward green initiatives.
He observed that major players, such as Maersk and Meridian Port Services (MPS), are already transitioning their land and terminal operations toward “greenways,” incorporating eco-friendly trucks and sustainable cargo handling.
Mr Masawudu further emphasised that achieving coastal sustainability and “green oceans” is a core vision of the government, and the adoption of new technologies will be the driving force behind making this vision a reality. 
