New Shippers Authority Law will Boost Industry and promote Fairness- Ms Asana
The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has praised the passage of new legislation, stating it will enhance industry oversight and fairness.
Sylvia Asana Dawuda Owu, Director of Operations at the GSA, explained that the updated legislation introduces transparency in determining port charges, ensuring better accountability for international trade cargo moving through Ghana.
She stated that the law is designed to make Ghana a preferred transit trade route for its landlocked neighbours, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and to boost the sector’s revenue contribution to the national economy.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, July 30, in Parliament, Ms Asana highlighted that the law streamlines procedures to prevent unfair charges when cargo clearance is delayed.
“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 said.
Asana emphasized the importance of effective regulation to guarantee fair pricing and charges for stakeholders, especially importers and exporters. The GSA, originally established by NRCD 254 (1974) to regulate commercial shipping activities, has ensured compliance with established standards in the sector over the past five decades.
Emmanuel Kofi Arku, Director for Business Development and Commercial Service at the GSA, emphasized the transformative potential of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, recently passed by Parliament.
Arku noted that while the GSA has been operational 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.
“The legislation aims to tackle high and arbitrary charges imposed at Ghana’s ports. We all hear about high, arbitrary, illegal, and administrative charges,” Arku explained. “Now, the law gives us the power to determine whether the charges are fair, reasonable, and whether they can be applied at all.”
Arku also mentioned that the GSA will not act unilaterally but will engage with industry experts to agree on rates and variables. 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. He expressed optimism that the law will make Ghana more competitive in international trade by ensuring a fairer operating environment.
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Source: Felix Nyaaba // expressnewsghana.com
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