The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to delay his approval of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024, until significant concerns raised by stakeholders are thoroughly addressed.
Parliament passed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, into law on Monday, July 29, 2024, following its third reading in the House. The law is intended to regulate the commercial activities of shippers, focusing on curbing unfair and excessive charges that impact traders using Ghana’s sea and airports, as well as land borders, for international trade.
However, in a statement issued on August 21 and signed by GUTA’s president, Dr. Joseph Obeng, the association expressed concern that relevant stakeholders were not adequately consulted before the bill was passed into law.
“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,” the statement read.
Parliament asserts that the new law will bring transparency to the determination of port fees, ensuring accountability in the legal movement of international trade cargo across all of Ghana’s borders. The law also aims to position Ghana as the preferred transit trade channel for landlocked neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, while enhancing the sector’s revenue contribution to the national economy.
Despite these objectives, GUTA insists that President Akufo-Addo should refrain from signing the bill into law until all the concerns raised by stakeholders are fully addressed.
