Ghana Shippers' Authority Information

The Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA) is a state agency operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport. It was established in 1974 by NRCD254 and has over the years collaborated with private and public organizations in the maritime industry to pursue its primary objective of protecting and promoting the interest of shippers in Ghana in relation to port, ship and inland transport problems in order to ensure safe, reliable and cost effective cargo handling. SERVICES TO SHIPPERS -Sensitising and empowering shippers and stakeholders in the shipping and logistics sector through programmes such as open fora for trade associations, annual seminars for journalists, biennial maritime law seminars for Judges, workshops for truck owners and drivers, etc. -Establishment of Import/Export Shipper Committees across the country to enable shippers and shipping service providers interact regularly in order to resolve challenges confronting their businesses; -Negotiation of freight and port charges of shipping service providers on behalf of shippers; -Establishment of Shipper Complaints and Support Units at the country's entry points to provide real-time assistance to shippers engaged in cross-border trade. -Negotiation and monitoring of service standards of shipping service providers; -Conducting research on emerging issues in Ghana's maritime transport industry; -Facilitation and promotion of the Transit Trade along Ghana’s transit corridor; -Advocacy in matters affecting shippers such as Implementation of IMO Sulphur Regulations 2020, Terminal Handling Charges, payment of VAT on transit services and levy on transit exports, etc; -Intervening, investigating and finding solutions to recurrent shipment problems such as loss/damaged cargo, late arrival of shipping documents, cargo insurance claims, illegitimate charges, short-landing of cargo, etc. -Representation of the interests of shippers in the deliberations of international bodies such as IMO, WTO, UNCTAD,