As part of efforts to make shipping a cost-effective venture for importers and exporters, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has held engagements with the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) and the Committee of Freight Forwarders’ Association (COFFA) on ways to reduce the cost of shipping.
The meeting was held at the Shippers’ House in Accra on 14th June 2022 and facilitated by the GSA, in line with its mandate to protect and promote the interests of shippers in Ghana.
The GSA has prioritised education and sensitisation of shippers on avoiding demurrage as part of its activities for the year.
The executives of GUTA and COFFA present at the meeting noted the consistent increase in freight with the advent of COVID-19 as well as demurrage – cost incurred for overstayed cargo – as their major operational cost element, and hoped that measures will be put in place to address them.
The Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, Ms. Benonita Bismarck, assured leadership of GUTA and COFFA that the Authority will continue working to improve trade at the ports by reducing bottlenecks involved in shipping.
She reiterated the GSA’s commitment to deepening its relationship with freight forwarders as key stakeholders in the industry, and added that it will continue to collaborate on diverse issues for advancement of the shipping and logistics industry… particularly in the interest of shippers in Ghana.
