The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has stepped up efforts to ensure that importers and exporters comply with the mandatory registration requirement on theJXU76I;
‘Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), as the implementation of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122) gathers momentum.
The Authority has embarked on a nationwide sensitisation campaign targeting freight forwarders, importers and exporters, warning that failure to register could affect cargo clearance processes.
A key stakeholder engagement was held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Ghana Shippers’ House, where officials from the GSA, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Ghana Link Network Services Ltd. explained the registration process and its implications for the shipping industry.
The programme focused on Section 26(1) of Act 1122, which makes it mandatory for all shippers to register with the GSA before processing shipment transactions through the ICUMS platform.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Technical Services, Mrs Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu, urged freight forwarders to educate their clients and ensure full compliance with the new requirement.
She said the registration system is expected to streamline cargo clearance procedures while generating reliable trade data to support government policy formulation and future regulatory adjustments.
Officials also conducted practical demonstrations of the ICUMS registration process and addressed concerns raised by participants to facilitate a smooth rollout.
During the engagement, freight forwarding associations appealed for an extension of the implementation deadline to August 31, 2026, arguing that additional time was needed to complete stakeholder education and improve compliance levels.
Mrs Dauda Owu acknowledged the request and assured participants that the Authority’s management would consider the proposal and communicate its decision.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Container Administrative Charge (CAC), with leaders of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) encouraging members to ensure that importers comply with the approved GH¢720 charge.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Mr Divine Agbeko, called for stronger collaboration among customs authorities, freight forwarders and other industry stakeholders to improve trade efficiency and facilitate seamless cargo clearance.
The ICUMS registration campaign forms part of the GSA’s broader efforts to strengthen regulatory compliance, improve data-driven decision-making and enhance the efficiency of Ghana’s international trade and logistics sector.
