The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to delay signing the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024, into law until concerns from key stakeholders are thoroughly addressed.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, was passed by Parliament on Monday, July 29, 2024, following its third reading.
The legislation is designed to regulate the commercial activities of shippers, with a focus on curbing unfair and excessive charges imposed on traders utilizing Ghana’s sea ports, airports, and land borders for international trade.
Despite the bill’s passage, GUTA, in a statement released on August 21, 2024, and signed by its president, Dr. Joseph Obeng, voiced its concerns.
The association emphasized that proper consultations with relevant stakeholders were not conducted before the bill was enacted.
“The business community appeals to the President not to sign the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024, until the critical issues raised by stakeholders have been resolved,” the statement read.
Parliament has argued that the new law will introduce transparency in port fee determination and promote accountability in the legal movement of international trade cargo across Ghana’s borders.
Additionally, it aims to position Ghana as a preferred transit route for landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, thereby boosting revenue for the nation.
However, GUTA remains firm in its stance that President Akufo-Addo should hold off on giving his approval until all outstanding concerns are addressed.
Below is the full statement.
The Business Community wishes to appeal to the President of the Republic not to assent to the Ghana Shippers Authority Act, 2024 until some critical issues raised on the Act by stakeholders are resolved.
They are as follows:
- The issue of registration of shippers and shipping service providers were not discussed with us to make our input as stakeholders in the shipping industry.
- Submission of notice of shipment was also not discussed with stakeholders for their input.
- The final draft was issued to stakeholders only after Parliament had approved the Bill.
- Issues raised on the suspension of registration, renewal of certificate of registration, cancellation of registration and outright rejection, which are only related to permits and licenses to operate as importers have not been resolved with stakeholders.
- The Advance Shipment Information System that had been resisted and withdrawn by the Government in the past is now being reintroduced in the Act. Our position on that has not changed. Moreover, this information sought by the GSA is of no relevance to their operation.
- For these reasons, the Ghana Shippers Authority had agreed to our concerns and promised that as the Act has already been passed by Parliament, they would use Legislative Instruments (LIs) to correct any defect or anomaly in the operationalization of the Act. However, our consultations suggest that LIs cannot override an Act, hence our call on the President of the Republic not to assent to the Act until all issues raised are resolved.
