Parliament has successfully passed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, into law following its third reading on the floor of the House on Monday, July 29, 2024.
This new legislation updates the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s 50-year-old establishment law, NRCD 254 (1974), and introduces key regulations for the commercial activities of shippers.
One of the primary aims of the law is to address the issue of unfair and excessive charges that burden traders using Ghana’s sea and air ports, as well as land borders for international trade.
The law mandates transparency in determining port fees and charges, ensuring accountability in the legal movement of international trade cargo across all of Ghana’s borders.
It also seeks to position Ghana as a preferred transit trade channel for its landlocked neighbors, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, thereby enhancing the sector’s revenue contribution to the national economy.
With the new law, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority will be better equipped to adapt to emerging trends and complexities within the shipping and logistics industry.
This includes protecting the interests of shippers and shipping service providers and improving regulatory oversight of the entire industry.
The Committee on Roads and Transportation’s report on the Bill emphasized the importance of effective regulation in the shipping and logistics sector to ensure fair pricing and charges for all stakeholders, particularly importers and exporters.
Meanwhile, the report highlighted that the Bill empowers the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to facilitate fair fee charges at ports and borders, promoting the participation of local firms in providing services within the sector.
Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, who moved for the approval of the Bill, expressed satisfaction with its passage. He noted that the Bill would enhance the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s ability to fulfill its statutory mandate effectively.
The Committee identified that exorbitant charges imposed by some service providers at sea and air ports hinder business growth and contribute to rising prices of goods and services. The new law aims to enhance transparency and accountability, driving improved revenue generation and collection for national socio-economic growth.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) was established 50 years ago by NRCD 254 (1974) to regulate the commercial activities of shippers and shipping service providers in the shipment, storage, and delivery of international trade cargo by sea, air, and land.
Over the decades, GSA has driven compliance with established standards and guidelines in the commercial shipping sector in Ghana and through Ghana to Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali.
Since 1974, GSA has spearheaded the development, monitoring, and facilitation of transit trade through Ghana’s corridors. The newly passed law will enable more effective regulation of transit trade, balancing the interests of shippers and service providers for enhanced efficiency and competitiveness in international trade.
Chief Executive Officer of GSA, Kwesi Baffour Sarpong, commented on the occasion, stating that the amended law is a significant step in the right direction but not a cure-all.
He assured stakeholders of a collaborative approach to addressing any issues that may arise, given GSA’s longstanding cordial relationships with all stakeholders.
Additionally, he emphasized that the enforcement of the law would be fair and representative of the interests of the shipping industry, marking a major win for Ghana in its quest to become the preferred trade hub in the region.
Nonetheless, Kwesi Baffour Sarpong expressed gratitude to all stakeholders in the industry, including trade associations, shipping service providers, shipping lines, sister state agencies, the Attorney-General’s Department, and the Ministry of Transport, for their invaluable contributions to the Bill.
He also thanked the President of the Republic, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Cabinet, and Parliament for their commitment to a cause that holds immeasurable benefits for all industry stakeholders and promises better fortunes for Ghana.
Mr. Sarpong paid tribute to the Board, Management, and staff of GSA, both past and present, whose tireless efforts have brought the new law into being.
