The Shippers’ Authority Bill is passed by Parliament.
On Monday, July 29, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024 was approved by parliament.
The Bill will regulate shippers’ commercial activities and mainly address the issue of unfair and excessive charges that burden traders who use Ghana’s sea and airports, as well as land borders, to ply their international trade. The Bill amends the country’s 50-year establishment law, NRCD 254 (1974).
It would provide accountability for the lawful movement of international trade cargo across all of Ghana’s borders by bringing transparency to the setting of port taxes and charges.
It attempts to increase the sector’s financial contribution to the national coffers and establish Ghana as a favored transit trade route for her landlocked neighbors, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The new law will provide the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) more authority to safeguard the interests of shippers and shipping service providers, enhance its regulatory control of the entire industry, and better respond to changing trends and complications within the shipping and logistics sector.
According to the Bill’s report by the Parliamentary Committee on Roads and Transportation, one of the main factors in the bill’s successful passage was the requirement for efficient regulation of the shipping and logistics industry to ensure reasonable costs and prices for all parties involved, particularly importers and exporters.
According to the study, the Bill would enable the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to facilitate the imposition of reasonable fees at ports and borders, thereby encouraging local businesses to participate in the industry’s service supply.
The Committee observed that excessive fees levied by certain service providers, particularly at sea and airports, impeded the expansion of businesses and added to the unjustified escalation in the costs of goods and services.
After the President signs the Bill, it is anticipated that it will promote accountability and transparency and inevitably lead to better tax generation and collection for the country’s socioeconomic development.
The Minister of Transport, Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, moved to approve the bill. He expressed his happiness and said that, if passed, the bill would strengthen the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s ability to carry out its legally mandated duties.
In order to control the commercial activities of shippers and shipping service providers in the shipment, storage, and delivery of international commerce cargo by land, air, and sea, NRCD 254 (1974) established the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) fifty years ago.
GSA has promoted adherence to set norms and regulations in Ghana’s commercial shipping industry for the past 50 years, as well as across Ghana to Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali.
The creation, oversight, and facilitation of transit trade through Ghana’s corridors have been led by GSA since 1974.
The bill as approved will make it possible to regulate transit commerce more successfully, balancing the interests of service providers and shippers for increased effectiveness and competitiveness in global trade.
The Chief Executive Officer of GSA, Mr. Kwesi Baffour Sarpong, spoke on the historic occasion and stated that while the new law was a significant step in the right direction, it was not a “magic silver bullet.”
“Considering our long-standing friendly relationships with all the stakeholders, GSA is prepared for a collaborative approach to dealing with any issues that may arise,” he said.
Mr. Sarpong gave all parties involved his word that the law would be applied fairly, in a way that would represent the interests of the shipping sector, and that Ghana would gain a significant victory in her bid to become the preferred trading hub in the West African sub-region.
He expressed gratitude to Parliament, the Cabinet, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for their dedication to a cause that would improve Ghana’s fortunes and benefit all industry participants.
All industry participants, including trade associations, shipping lines, shipping service providers, sister state agencies, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Ministry of Transport, the superintending Ministry of GSA, were thanked by Mr. Sarpong for their various roles, priceless contributions, and ceaseless efforts in assembling the Bill.
He praised and honored the GSA Board, Management, and Staff—past and present—whose tireless efforts resulted in the creation of the new law.
