Parliament passes Ghana Shippers’ Authority bill, 2024, aiming to streamline shipping industry

Parliament has passed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, a move that is expected to significantly streamline operations within the country’s shipping industry. The new legislation, which amends the 50-year-old establishment law NRCD 254 (1974), aims to regulate the commercial activities of shippers and address unfair and excessive charges that have long burdened traders using Ghana’s sea and airports, as well as land borders, for international trade.

Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Arku, Director of Business Development and Commercial Service at the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), hailed the passage of the bill as a crucial development for the industry. Speaking to the Parliamentary Press Corps at Parliament House in Accra, Mr. Arku emphasized that the new law would empower the GSA to better adapt to the evolving trends and complexities in the shipping and logistics sectors.

Mr. Arku assured that the GSA would not implement the law unilaterally but would engage with industry players, all of whom are experts in the field, to ensure fair application. “Once we agree on certain variables and rates, that is what we will apply, and the law provides the authority to implement and enforce these agreements,” he stated. He also noted that the law includes provisions for regulating charges such as demurrage.

The new legislation is designed to benefit all stakeholders, including freight forwarders, shippers, and even shipping lines. Mr Arku pointed out that the law provides a mechanism for shipping lines to seek recourse with the GSA if they face unfair treatment from other service providers.

Madam Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu, Director of Operations at the GSA, highlighted that the new law would introduce greater transparency in determining port fees and charges, ensuring better accountability in the legal movement of international trade cargo across Ghana’s borders. Additionally, the law aims to make Ghana a preferred transit trade route for its landlocked neighbours Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger while enhancing the sector’s contribution to national revenue.