Business community welcomes Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
Business associations and industry leaders have expressed support for the newly passed amended Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024.
While acknowledging some grey areas in the legislation, they believe the Act will better serve the interests of all stakeholders in maritime and trade.
Speaking at a meeting organized by the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) in Accra, yesterday, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, highlighted the bill’s 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 shipper’s authority is well defined. They become a form of a referee to aid us in creating the equity needed in the cost of doing business, especially from the port of entry,” he said.
Dr. Ayim-Darke 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.
President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng, echoed this sentiment, noting 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 pointed out that while there are some grey areas in the Act, 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.
Parliament passed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, on July 29, 2024, following its successful third reading on the floor of the House.
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 burdening 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.
