The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) and the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) have pledged to collaborate more closely to address escalating costs and inefficiencies in the country’s maritime trade sector.
At a high-level meeting in Accra, the two bodies agreed that inefficiencies and excessive charges imposed by various state agencies were driving up the cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports. They emphasized the need for reforms, data transparency, and regular stakeholder dialogue to make the shipping environment more efficient and competitive.
Professor Ransford Gyampo, Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, said the Authority would act as a neutral arbiter in ensuring fairness and balance between the interests of shippers, agents, and regulatory institutions.
“Our duty is to protect the broader interest of Ghana’s commercial shipping space. That means listening to all stakeholders and ensuring no one party bears an unfair burden,” he said.
Vice President of SOAAG, Mr. Adam Imoru Ayarna, highlighted multiple cost drivers in the industry, including high levies, bureaucratic processes, and the destruction or auctioning of cargo without consultation with shippers or agents.
“These practices add up to huge operational costs and discourage trade. The solution lies in transparency, accurate data-sharing, and joint accountability,” he stressed.
Both institutions agreed to strengthen collaboration through continuous dialogue and operational reforms aimed at enhancing port efficiency, promoting fairness, and positioning Ghana as a competitive maritime hub in the sub-region.
