Trade Advocacy Group Opposes GUTA’s Request to Postpone Presidential Assent to Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act
The Trader Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) says it has received with great surprise the call for delay in assent to the Ghana Shippers ‘ Authority (GSA) Act by President Akufo-Addo by GUTA and other stakeholders in the trading community.
According to TAGG, contrary to assertions of inadequate consultations and engagement with relevant stakeholders, the GSA since the passage of the Act has continuously engaged all relevant stakeholders, particularly on portions of the Act which the business community expressed concerns.
TAGG in a statement issued on Friday, August 23, quipped the amended GSA Act is in the interest of stakeholders in the trading community, asserting that the new law is needed to protect traders.
“The new law is in the interest of the multiple stakeholders of the shipping and logistics sector and any attempt to stifle it would be in the interest of a few who may not necessarily have the interest of traders at heart,” averred TAGG.
The trade advocacy group has therefore called on the President to expedite action on assenting to the amended GSA Act “which by all standards will place Ghana on the global commercial shipping scene.”
Adding that the law would lead to better fortunes for shippers and all those in the commercial shipping business.
The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) in a statement on Thursday, August 22, called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to refrain from signing the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024, into law, citing unresolved concerns that the association believes could have far-reaching implications for the country’s trading community.
The legislation, passed by Parliament on July 29, 2024, seeks to bring greater regulation to the commercial practices of shippers in Ghana, with an emphasis on curbing excessive fees that have long burdened traders utilizing the nation’s ports and borders for international commerce.
The Act is also intended to bolster Ghana’s position as a key transit hub for its landlocked neighbors, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and to enhance revenue contributions from the sector to the national coffers.
However, GUTA has voiced strong objections to the process, particularly the lack of consultation with key stakeholders prior to the bill’s passage. President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, argued that the absence of input from the business community undermines the bill’s potential to achieve its intended outcomes.
“The Business Community wishes to appeal to the President of the Republic not to assent to the Ghana Shippers Authority Act, 2024 until some critical issues raised on the Act by stakeholders are resolved,” the statement read.
GUTA’s stance highlights broader concerns within the private sector about the potential impact of the legislation on the cost and efficiency of international trade operations in Ghana. The association’s appeal to the President reflects a deep-seated belief that further dialogue is necessary to ensure that the law, while well-intentioned, does not inadvertently stifle the very activities it seeks to regulate.
