GSA Blocks Unjustified Tariff Increases by Shipping Lines Under New Act
Ghana’s shipping regulator has moved swiftly to assert its new oversight powers, blocking a number of fee increases proposed by shipping service providers as it begins enforcement of a new legal framework aimed at curbing price opacity and strengthening regulatory scrutiny in the country’s logistics sector.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), empowered under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), said it had rejected proposed tariff hikes from several shipping lines and ground handlers operating at Kotoka International Airport, following what it described as “thorough and evidence-based reviews.”
“This obligation has been enforced without let or hindrance,” the Authority said in a statement released on Tuesday, in response to growing media interest surrounding its regulatory posture under the new Act.
The 2024 legislation requires all shipping-related charges, including tariffs and ancillary fees, to be submitted for review and approval by the GSA prior to implementation, in a bid to promote transparency and protect cargo owners from arbitrary cost escalation.
The Authority stressed that while it now exercises enhanced regulatory control, it intends to adopt a consultative rather than punitive approach. “Being mindful that its role as a regulator is not aimed at stifling businesses and international trade in particular, GSA has adopted an inquisitorial rather than adversarial approach,” the statement noted.
Shipping and logistics stakeholders have long raised concerns about the absence of pricing clarity in Ghana’s port and cargo handling systems, which has in many cases resulted in elevated costs for importers and exporters. These inefficiencies, according to trade economists, erode Ghana’s competitiveness as a West African trade hub.
In a further move to rein in market irregularities, the GSA said it had opened investigations into the practice by some shipping lines of applying unapproved foreign exchange (forex) rates when billing clients.
Following formal complaints by freight forwarders and importers, the Authority said it convened a high-level meeting on July 15 with the Bank of Ghana, shipping lines, and affected stakeholders to address the issue. A directive from the central bank to prohibit the application of non-market forex rates is expected in the coming days, the GSA said.
“The directive will be duly published for the attention and benefit of all stakeholders,” it added.
The Authority also disclosed that it is in the process of drafting a Legislative Instrument to operationalise Act 1122, incorporating feedback from stakeholders across the air, sea, and land transport value chain, including regulators, shipping agents, and terminal operators.
“This collaborative approach further underscores GSA’s resolve to ensure that enforcement of the law would remain without fear or favour,” the Authority said, noting that it aims to strike a balance between regulation and the need to foster a competitive maritime economy.
Ghana is one of several African countries seeking to modernise and regulate their shipping industries as trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gradually expands. By reinforcing oversight mechanisms, the GSA hopes to position the country as a more efficient and transparent gateway for regional and global trade flows.
