Government lauds Ghana Shippers Awards

Ghana as a developing country relies strongly on revenue from the ports and government is therefore taking deliberate steps to ensure that the shipping industry operates effectively and efficiently.

Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah speaking at the maiden edition of the Ghana Shippers Awards said the shipping industry is one of the key drivers of the nation’s economy and must therefore be taken seriously.

‘’Over 80% of Ghana’s international trade by volume is carried by sea. The seaport has therefore become a very important area for the country’s revenue mobilisation efforts. It is for this and other important reasons that the government remains committed especially in the maritime and shipping industry for increased trade facilitation methods to help achieve competitiveness for our ports as a preferred transit corridor for our land logged neighbours. The airports also play a complimentary role as far as the shipment of valuable and perishable goods are concerned’’ he noted.

According to the minister, the recent port efficiency conference organised under the auspices of the Vice President is ample evidence and testimony of government’s commitment at improving trade facilitation in the country and getting the ports to operate optimally.

The Minister mentioned the removal of all customs barriers within the country’s corridors, the mandatory joint inspection by the regulatory agencies at the port and the implementation of 100% paperless processing procedures by 1st September 2017 as measures being instituted by government to ensure effective and efficient trade facilitation in the country.

"We cannot talk about the maritime and shipping industry without talking about security and safety within our maritime domain in this era of increased occurrence of piracy. As a way of securing the country’s territorial waters and maritime domain, the vessel traffic management and information system (VTMIS) has been installed and operational. The VTMIS is a security surveillance system that monitors and gives advance information on all vessels entering Ghana’s territorial waters’’ he said.

According him, government was also putting in place policies and programmes to remove all barriers to shipping and logistics in other modes of transport in order to achieve the objective of establishing Ghana as the transport hub in the West African sub-region.

Mr. Ofori Asiamah was full of praise for the organisers of the Ghana Shippers Awards saying "the important role of the players in the shipping and logistics chain industry cannot be over emphasised. It is in this regard that the Ghana Shippers Awards provides the platform to recognise industries and companies that play a significant role in the growth and development of the industry. This is the premier event in Ghana which showcases on a national scale the excellence and innovations in the industry’’.

On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Madam Benonita Bismack, noted that the Authority believes Ghana’s economic transformation agenda will have to be hinged on a strong, robust and efficient transport and logistics sector.

She underscored the need to look at the logistics sector in order to create the advantages that will propel the country into a brighter economic future. She also lauded the Authority’s collaboration with Globe productions and reiterated their commitment and resolve to continue to work together.

In all some 47 companies and individuals were awarded for their contribution to the shipping industry.

Below is the full list of the award recipients.

The Shipper of the year award went to Nestle Ghana Limited while the Anas Aremeyaw Anas award for transparency went to WestBlue Consulting.

The courier service provider of the went to Armex, Break Bulk operator of the year, GMT Shipping, Air Freight Solutions provider of the year, Air Ghana, Sea Freight solutions provider of the year, Consolidated shipping agencies limited, Air cargo carrier of the year Turkish airline, Freight Forwarder of the year, BAJ Freight, Excellence in HSEQ, Ghana Airports Company Limited, Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility award went to McDan Shipping company Limited, Promising Freight Forwarding company of the year, Transglobal logistics.

Promising CEO of the year, Dr. Kofi Amoah-Abban, Terminal of the year, APM Terminals Ghana Limited, Brand of the year, McDan Shipping Company Limited, Trade Facilitation Company of year, GcNet, Logistics Service Provider of the year, Consolidated Shipping Agencies Limited, Reporter of the year, Kennedy Mornah, Financial Service Provider of the year, Guaranty Trust Bank, Maritime and Logistics Insurer of the year, Star Assurance Company Limited, Customer Service Award, Damco Logistics Ghana Limited.

CEO of the year, Dr. Nortey Omaboe, GCNet, Exporter of the year, Barry Callbaebaut Ghana Limited, Importer of the year, Total Petroleum Ghana Limited, Shipper of the year, Nestle Ghana Limited, Shipping line of the year, Maersk line, Shipping Agent of the year, Grimaldi Ghana Limited, Ground handling-Air Cargo of the year, Swissport Ghana Limited, Entrepreneur of the year, Dr. Daniel McKorley, McDan Shipping, Emerging brand of the year, Damco Rigworld, Bulk Distribution Company of the year, BOST, Product Innovation of the year, OmniBank Omni Cargo, Maritime Media Programme of the year, Eye On Port.

Indigenous Marine Company of the year , Benmarine Services Limited, Domestic Courier service provider of the year, Blue Chip, Promising Terminal of the year, Amaris Terminal, Promising Logistics Company of the year, Damco Rigworld, promising entrepreneur of the year, Bernard Lomotey Agbloe, Haulier of the year, Apex Shipping & commercial company limited, Project heavy lift forwarder of the year, Jonmore International Limited, Promising Marine service provider of the year, Benmarine services limited.

Special awards went to some 8 personalities and organisations including Mr. Magnus Teye Adico who received the National Champion, Shipping, Port Policy and Regional Policy reforms award, Dr.Kofi Mbiah who took away strategic champion award for shipper services and international maritime legislative reforms.

The port sector reforms and human development champion award went to Mr. Ben Owusu Mensah. Alhaji Asuma Banda was awarded for commercial shipping and private sector champion, while the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana Airports Company Limited all received the industry leadership award. The Anti Corruption Crusade Award went to Ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas