Director for Business Development and Commercial Service at the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Emmanuel Kofi Arku, has underscored the transformative potential of a new legislation passed by Parliament for the Authority.
According to him, the passage of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, into law marks a pivotal moment for Ghana’s shipping industry, promising enhanced oversight and fairness in port charges and operations.
He noted that while the GSA has been in place for 50 years, the previous law had not kept pace with industry changes.
“Now that we have this new law, we expect it to address the challenges we face at the ports,” he said.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, July 30 in Parliament, Mr. Kofi Anku stressed that the law also regulates demurrage charges and streamlines procedures to prevent unfair charges when cargo clearance is delayed.
“The legislation aims to tackle high and arbitrary charges imposed at Ghana’s ports. We all hear about high, arbitrary, illegal, and administrative charges.”
“Now, the law gives us the power to determine whether the charges are fair, they are reasonable and whether they can be applied at all,” Arku explained.
The GSA, he said, will not act unilaterally but will engage with industry experts to agree on rates and variables.
According to him, the new legislation positions the GSA as an arbiter in the industry, allowing stakeholders, including freight forwarders and shipping lines, to have recourse for grievances.
Kofi Arku expressed optimism that the law will make Ghana more competitive in international trade by ensuring a fairer operating environment.
Sylvia Asana Dawuda Owu, Director of Operations at the GSA on her part explained that the updated legislation introduces transparency in determining port charges, ensuring better accountability for international trade cargo moving through Ghana.
The law, she said, is designed to make Ghana a preferred transit trade route for its landlocked neighbors, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and to boost the sector’s revenue contribution to the national economy.
“This new law is an enabler. It will empower the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to better adapt to emerging trends and complexities within the shipping and logistics industry,” she stated.
Owu emphasized the importance of effective regulation to guarantee fair pricing and charges for stakeholders, especially importers and exporters.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) was originally established by NRCD 254 (1974) to regulate commercial shipping activities.
According to her, over the past five decades, the GSA has ensured compliance with established standards in the sector.