Ghana Shippers Authority seeks to modernize shipping laws, engages industry stakeholders

The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), under the guidance of the Ministry of Transport, is engaging key stakeholders in the shipping and logistics industry to discuss proposed amendments to the GSA’s outdated establishment law.

Enacted in 1974, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act has not been updated in nearly 50 years, failing to keep pace with the ever-evolving dynamics of global shipping.

Industry leaders have advocated for revisions to empower the GSA to tackle contemporary challenges.

According to GSA Chief Executive Officer, Kwesi Baffour Sarpong, the proposed amendments aim to explicitly extend the GSA’s scope to cover air and land transportation modes, in addition to maritime shipping.

The updates also seek to boost the authority’s enforcement mechanisms.

While the current act broadly applies to all transport modes based on legal interpretations over the years, the amendments will provide clearer statutory authority for the GSA to address shipper and service provider concerns across the shipping and logistics sectors.

The ultimate goal is to enhance the competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, and seamlessness of Ghana’s ports and cargo-clearing processes.

On his part, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli, who chaired the consultative sessions, emphasized the necessity of amending the GSA’s legal framework to empower the Authority to protect and promote the interests of Ghanaian shippers and their agents.

He stressed the importance of soliciting input from these key players central to Ghana’s shipping industry success.

The key stakeholders engaged include the Parliamentary Committee on Road and Transport, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), the Shipowners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG), freight forwarder associations, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), and trade associations in Ghana.

GSA officials provided detailed information on the significance and key areas targeted in the draft amendment bill during the engagements.