- GUTA claims that key stakeholders were not consulted before the bill’s passage
- GUTA urges President Akufo-Addo to withhold assent
- The Act aims to improve transparency in port fee structures
The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to postpone endorsing the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024, until significant concerns from stakeholders are addressed.
On July 29, 2024, Parliament enacted the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, following its third reading. This new legislation aims to regulate the commercial operations of shippers by tackling unfair and excessive fees imposed on traders using Ghana’s ports and land borders for international trade.
However, in a statement released on August 21 and signed by its president, Dr. Joseph Obeng, GUTA voiced its discontent, highlighting that key stakeholders were not consulted during the legislative process.
“The Business Community appeals to the President to withhold assent to the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024, until critical issues raised by stakeholders are addressed,” the statement noted.
The legislation is intended to introduce greater transparency in port fee determination and ensure accountability in the legal movement of international trade cargo. It also aims to position Ghana as a preferred transit route for landlocked neighbors like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and to enhance the sector’s contribution to the national revenue.
Despite these goals, GUTA insists that President Akufo-Addo should delay approval of the bill until all raised concerns are thoroughly resolved.
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:
1. 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.
2. Submission of notice of shipment was also not discussed with stakeholders for their input.
3. The final draft was issued to stakeholders only after Parliament had approved the Bill.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
