Dr Mbiah retires from Ghana Shippers’ Authority

Dr Kofi Mbiah, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Shippers’ Authority retires with dignity after 35 years of meritorious service to the Authority and to mother Ghana.

Government has subsequently appointed Ms Benonita Bismarck, a Strategic Planner and Management Consultant with experience in the shipping industry as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA).

Dr Mbiah started his working career at the Authority in 1982 as an Assistant Legal Officer and rose through the ranks to become the Chief Executive Officer in 1999, making him the longest serving CEO of the Authority.

His legacy includes; building a robust corporate culture, unparalleled motivation of staff for increased output, improved staff welfare and a high staff morale, crafting of the vision, mission and organizational values of the Authority as well as four five-yearly strategic plans.

These ensured that the Authority journeyed on a clearly defined path in ensuring the strengthening of its structures for delivering on its mandate of protecting and promoting the interests of shippers in Ghana.

Other notable achievements are improved staff training and the development of capacity of staff in various fields of endeavour, construction of a US$16.5 million multipurpose office complex - the Ghana Shippers House which is targeted to be a one-stop shop for shipping and related service providers.

Dr Mbiah is also credited with the expansion of the activities of the Authority to all the ten Regions of the country, by virtue of its Shipper Committee concept and as well as the establishment of Shipper Complaints and Support Units at key entry/border points such as Aflao, Elubo, Paga, Takoradi Port and the Kotoka International Airport.

He was tagged for development of seven large warehousing facilities close to the Port of Tema for use by shippers, mastermind behind the 10 per cent shareholding in the Ghana Community Network (GCNet) Company Limited - an electronic platform for the expedited clearance of cargo from the ports.

Dr Mbiah’s other heritage at GSA are institutionalisation of Maritime Law Seminar for Judges in Ghana, Maritime Law and International Trade Seminar for the Trade and Transport Industry and the annual Maritime Seminar for Media Personnel.

The compilation of The Admiral – A Compendium, which consolidates all the papers delivered at the maritime law seminars for judges of the superior courts over a decade.

He is again the main architect behind GSA’s construction of the Takoradi Logistics Platform at Funko for the Oil and Gas Industry on a Public Private Partnership basis.

Dr Mbiah engineered the acquisition of a 400-acre land for the Boankra Inland Port Project and the construction of an Administrative Block (Boankra Shippers Centre) and other lands for future development in the Central, Greater Accra, Western, Ashanti and Northern Regions.

The out-going CEO also by dint of accomplishment became the main face of Ghana at a number of Maritime conferences across the world.

For over 20 years Dr Mbiah led Ghana's delegation to the sessions of the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization; serving as vice chairman of the Legal Committee for over ten years and later as Chairman for six years. He was the first black man to hold the position.

Dr Mbiah in the maritime world is acclaimed to have contributed immensely to the development of various international maritime instruments; the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (Rotterdam Rules).

Dr Mbiah has also made significant contributions to the development of shipping in the West African Sub-region. As chairman of the Union of African Shippers Councils and working with the Global Shippers Forum, he has been instrumental in dealing with a number of challenges facing Shippers in the region.

Since 2006, Dr Mbiah has been a visiting professor at the World Maritime and Land Universities in Malmo, Sweden and was also recently appointed by the IMO Secretary General as a Member of the Board International Maritime Law Institute of the IMO in Malta.

Under his leadership GSA won numerous awards including: Marine & Freight Industry award (2001), Most Innovative Shippers Organisation award (2002), Third Prize for the Best Managed Shippers' Council in Africa (2004), and Best Maritime Agency in Trade Facilitation in West Africa (2007).

The rest were; Most Innovative Shippers’ Council in West Africa (2008), Best Agency in Trade Facilitation in Africa (2010), International Quality Crown Award - Gold Category (2012), Best Agency in Trade Facilitation in Africa (2013) and Ghana Development Awards - Maritime Industry Category (2016).

Dr Mbiah in his personal capacity also received several awards as a beacon of excellence and for his commitment and dedication to duty at both national and international levels.

These include; The IMLI Graduate International Achievement Award - in recognition of his steadfast contribution to the work of the International Maritime Community, particularly, his dedicated service to the IMO Legal Committee.

Others are; Honour for distinguished service to the work of the International Maritime Organisation; Africa Maritime and Energy Personality award (2012) - in acknowledgment of his immense contribution to the development of the Maritime Sector in Africa and on the international scene.

Top Five inspirational public sector leaders in Ghana (2012) - in recognition of his leadership attributes that had driven innovation and continuous improvement in the Authority’s operations to the benefit of shippers as well as the immense contribution to the development of the Maritime Industry in Ghana.

The African Maritime and Energy (AME) Evergreen Award (2014) - in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the development of the Maritime Sector not only in Ghana and Africa but also on the international scene

National Achievers Award given by the Northern Youth for Peace and Development (NYUPED).