Accra, Ghana – The newly constituted Governing Board of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) was inaugurated today, with a direct mandate to significantly reduce the cost of business transactions at Ghana’s ports. This directive, issued by Minister for Transport Joseph Bukari Nikpe at the swearing-in ceremony, aims to enhance trade facilitation and firmly establish Ghana as a leading shipping and logistics hub in West Africa.
Minister Nikpe urged the new Board to leverage their collective expertise to drive efficiency and eliminate operational bottlenecks that have plagued the sector. He specifically cited persistent challenges such as high demurrage charges, the presence of multiple state agencies at the ports, and taxes on transit cargo as factors significantly increasing the cost of doing business in Ghana. Addressing these issues is crucial, he stated, to maintain Ghana’s competitiveness within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to support the government’s vision of a 24-hour economy, which seeks to boost cargo throughput, expand trade volumes, and create more opportunities along the shipping and logistics value chain.
The Minister also highlighted ongoing legislative reforms, including the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), passed in July 2024, which empowers the GSA to regulate commercial shipping and allied services in line with international standards. A draft Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is currently undergoing stakeholder consultations to give full operational effect to the new Act.
Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport, Mrs. Mabel Asi Sagoe, called on the Board to uphold the highest standards of corporate governance, emphasizing efficiency, accountability, and transparency to position the transport sector as a catalyst for economic growth.
In his acceptance remarks, the newly appointed Chairman of the Board, Mr. Mike Allen Hammah, pledged collaborative efforts with his fellow Board members to uphold leadership, integrity, and accountability, stressing the importance of trust, cooperation, and transparency in achieving the GSA’s strategic objectives.
The reconstituted Governing Board includes Mr. Mike Allen Hammah as Chairman, alongside Prof. Ransford Edward Van Gyampo, Mr. Nathaniel Amonoo Wilson, Mr. Alex Mensah, Brig. Gen. Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, Madam Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, Dr. Frederick Appoh, Dr. Emelia Assiakwa, Mr. Clement Boateng, Mr. Yaw Adu-Agyei Gyamfi, Madam Salamatu Fuad, and Mrs. Ewurabena Aubynn.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
