SLPHA Director General Highlights AI, Cybersecurity at African Ports Conference
The Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), Yankuba Askia Bio, has led a high-level delegation to the Conference of African Ports (COPAF 2026), held in Casablanca, Morocco, from October 19 to 21, 2026.
The conference was held under the theme “African Smart Port: AI and Cybersecurity Driving Performance,” bringing together port leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity can improve port operations and strengthen Africa’s trade competitiveness.
Addressing fellow port leaders, Bio highlighted the importance of AI and robust cybersecurity in improving port efficiency, protecting critical infrastructure and supporting trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“If these arteries are clogged by inefficiency or compromised by vulnerability, the entire body of African trade suffers,” he stated, emphasising the importance of efficient and secure ports to Africa’s economic integration.
He also highlighted SLPHA’s shift towards predictive intelligence and stressed that cybersecurity should be treated with the same seriousness as physical security. He encouraged African port authorities to share knowledge, experiences and best practices in adopting AI and strengthening cybersecurity systems.
The conference concluded with a call for collective African action to address increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, with participants recognising that no port or country can effectively tackle these challenges alone.
The SLPHA delegation included the Directors of Research, Planning and Development; Technical Services; and Internal Audit and Compliance.
The conference ended with a shared commitment to building smarter, more efficient and secure African ports. Its closing resolution reflected participants’ collective ambition: “The future of African trade is smart. The future of African trade is secure. And the future of African trade is in our hands.”
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