The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) say the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Law, 2024, passed by Parliament would mitigate the recurrent issues of unfair and excessive charges burdening traders at sea and the airports.
According to Dr. Joseph Obeng, GUTA President, the Association is “confident that the new law will empower the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to regulate charges and provide significant relief to the business community.”
He was optimistic the law would amend the 50-year-old Establishment Law which has been the bane of traders at sea and the airports.
At a meeting the two Associations hailed the Amended Law as a game-changer, empowering the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) to effectively regulate the local blue economy.
Dr. Humphrey Ayim Darke, AGI President, shared similar sentiments, saying, “We believe the new law will strengthen the business community in two ways: by giving the GSA the capacity to engage with agents equitably and reducing the cost of doing business, especially at the point of entry.”
Both associations are optimistic that the law will among other things empower the GSA to regulate unfair and excessive charges; bring transparency in port fee determination; ensure accountability in the legal movement of goods and services; and promote Ghana as a preferred trade hub in the region
Their confidence stems from collaborative efforts between the government and industry stakeholders in crafting the amended challenges, marking a significant step forward in regulatory reform and business facilitation in Ghana.
Hon. Marfo told the media that the amended law will sanitize the shipping industry, ensuring accountability of legal activities in the blue economy locally and beyond the shores of Ghana.
Parliament passed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, into law on July 29, 2024, repealing shipping service providers’ interests, and improving regulatory oversight.
GSA CEO Kwesi Baffour Sarpong said the amended law is a huge step forward but not a magic silver bullet.
He assured that enforcement will be fair and representative of the shipping industry’s interests, marking a significant win for Ghana in its quest to become the preferred trade hub in the region.