Ghana Shippers’ Authority pledges action on container evacuation delays

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Prof. Ransford Edward Gyampo, has asserted the Authority’s commitment to supporting shippers through practical trade facilitation measures.

This assurance comes in response to widespread concerns over the delayed evacuation of containers from the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3 to Inland Container Depots (ICDs).

At the 2nd Quarter Bronze and Trade Associations’ Shipper Committee meeting in Accra, Importers and trade associations complained that prolonged delays in transferring containers are tying up cargo, disrupting operations, and driving up costs at the Port of Tema.

They noted that rent, demurrage, and other penalties continued to accumulate even when importers had fulfilled all statutory requirements.

Speaking on behalf of Prof. Gyampo, the Head of Shipper Services and Trade Department, Mrs Monica Josiah, assured participants that the Authority was committed to easing these burdens.

She announced that shipper registrations would remain valid for a full twelve-month period before renewal is required, a measure designed to provide certainty and convenience for users while enabling them to fully utilise the ICUMS platform and other trade facilitation initiatives.

Mrs Josiah encouraged importers, exporters, and industry players yet to register with the Authority to do so in order to benefit from protections under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122).

She reiterated the Authority’s dedication to sustained stakeholder engagement and the creation of a business environment that supports efficient cargo movement and international trade.