Superior Court Justices of Ghana have been updated on some contemporary trends in the shipping and logistics sector to help them adjudicate disputes more efficiently.
Over forty (40) justices attended the 14th Maritime Law Seminar held on July 7th and 8th, 2023. The event, organised by the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) and supported by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), is aimed at enhancing the judges’ knowledge of modern-day development in the industry.
They were provided with insights on various topics, including Carriage of Goods by Sea Law in Ghana; Time for Needed Change; The Legal Regime for the Arrest of Ships in Ghana; Security in the Maritime Domain and Ghana’s Criminal Law Regime.
Additionally, they visited the Tema Port to gain practical knowledge of port operations, which would assist them in discharging their duties.
During the opening ceremony, Chief Justice (CJ) Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo highlighted the relevance of the selected topics, considering the dynamic and competitive nature of the maritime world.
She also mentioned the expected increase in maritime economic activities within Ghana’s territory, which may give rise to problems related to the transportation of goods and disputes associated with international transactions.
Ms. Benonita Bismarck, the Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, emphasized the significance of the seminar, given the dynamic nature of the shipping and logistics sector.
She briefed the judges on the GSA’s efforts to address the increasing insurgency attacks in the West Africa sub-region, as these attacks adversely affect revenues generated from transit trade. She also mentioned workshops on road safety regulations for haulage truck drivers at the Tema and Takoradi ports.
Addressing the judges, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Fredrick Obeng Adom, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah stated that the marine industry would remain the primary engine of domestic and foreign trade, stimulating economic growth and social development.
However, he acknowledged that the industry’s nature could also facilitate illegal activities and criminality at sea, requiring a clear-cut response and a deepened understanding of maritime-related issues.
Diana Asonaba Dapaah, the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, provided an update on the progress of the Maritime Offences Bill, 2022. The Bill aims to domesticate the International Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA) and related protocols.
She highlighted the importance of the new Bill in enabling Ghana to play a key role in the prosecution of piracy suspects, as the existing legislation, captured in the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), is inadequate in dealing with sophisticated piracy issues.
