By Samuel SAM
Officials at the Paga border in Upper East Region have been sensitised on the newly enacted Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) Act 2024.
The sensitisation seminar forms part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the revised GSA Act, which was passed by parliament in July 2024. The new Act consolidates and strengthens GSA’s mandate.
The passage of GSA Act 2024 is expected to significantly boost the Authority’s operational efficiency and create a more conducive environment for international trade, benefitting Ghana’s economy and enhancing the competitiveness of its shipping and logistics sectors.
The seminar, organised by the Northern Zonal Office of Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), aimed to educate key stakeholder, including Customs and police officers, immigration personnel, representatives from Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), members of Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) and other border officials on provisions of the new law and its impact on the shipping and trade sectors.
Similar exercises were held at Hamile in the Upper West Region for border stakeholders and Bolgatanga for the Northern Zonal Shipper Committee comprising Trade Associations and large-scale shippers in the north.
Speaking at the seminar held in Paga, Northern Zonal Manager-GSA, Mr. Frederick Atogiyire said: “Although GSA has been in existence for the past fifty years, it has faced limitations in its ability to address certain industry issues effectively.
“This was largely due to a lack of legal authority to fully enforce its decisions,” he said.
“The GSA law’s review therefore seeks to enhance the Authority’s operational efficiency and empower it with the necessary legal authority – giving it, as we say, teeth to bite,” he stated.
In her remarks, Director-Operations Ms. Sylvis Asana Dauda Owu elaborated some key aspects of the new Act: which include negotiation of shipping charges; sanctioning arbitrary charges; dispute resolution; promotion of local participation; a mediation role; and mandatory registration requirements.
She emphasised that the new Act, with its added provisions, strengthens GSA’s ability to enforce fairness, transparency and accountability within the shipping industry.
“GSA is now better-equipped to safeguard the interests of shippers and ensure the shipping sector operates in a more efficient, competitive and just manner,” she added.
A senior officer at GSA, Mr. Kwesi Saforo, took the officials through salient points of the new Act – including the approval of port charges, standards of service delivery, regulations to facilitate transit trade and mandatory registration for both shippers and shipping service providers.
The event concluded with an interactive session where officials raised questions about practical application of the Act at borders, sanctioning regimes and how the new regulations will affect their day-to-day operations.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the sensitisation and highlighted the importance of GSA’s continued engagement with stakeholders to ensure provisions of the new law are fully understood and implemented.
