Business leaders endorse amended Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024

The amended Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, has received strong support from business associations and industry leaders. Despite acknowledging some grey areas in the new legislation, they believe it will better serve all stakeholders involved in maritime and trade.

At a meeting organized by the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) in Accra, the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, praised the bill for its potential to strengthen the business community. “To the shipper, it gives us the capacity to engage with our agents in a very equitable manner. The role of the shippers’ authority is well defined. They become a form of referee to aid us in creating the equity needed in the cost of doing business, especially from the port of entry,” he stated.

Dr. Ayim-Darke also emphasized the importance of the forthcoming Legislative Instrument (LI), which will help refine and implement the Act. “We believe we’ll use the LI to perfect it, and therefore the Association of Ghana Industries fully welcomes this new Act,” he added.

Echoing these sentiments, the President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng, noted that the Association had long advocated for a stronger mandate for the Ghana Shippers’ Authority. “We have been facing many challenges at the port, especially from the shipping lines that we deal with,” he said. “The cost of doing business in this country is just too high, and this Act seeks to empower the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to ensure some bottlenecks are removed, bringing necessary controls to approve or disapprove charges.”

Dr. Obeng also highlighted the grey areas in the Act and mentioned that the Ministry has promised to address these through updates to the Legislative Instrument. He urged clearing agents to adopt a similar collaborative approach as GUTA, AGI, and other business associations in addressing their issues.

On July 29, 2024, Parliament passed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, following its successful third reading. The new law, which amends the 50-year-old establishment law NRCD 254 (1974), aims to regulate commercial activities of shippers and address unfair and excessive charges that burden traders using Ghana’s sea and air ports, as well as land borders for international trade.

The amended Act will introduce transparency in determining port fees and charges, ensuring accountability in the legal movement of international trade cargo across all of Ghana’s borders. Business leaders are optimistic that the new legislation will create a more equitable and efficient trading environment, ultimately benefiting the entire business community.