The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo withhold his assent to the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024, until critical concerns raised by stakeholders are addressed.
Parliament enacted the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, into law on Monday, July 29, 2024, following its third reading on the House floor.
The law seeks to control shippers’ commercial activities, with a focus on unjust and exorbitant taxes imposed on traders who use Ghana’s sea, airports, and land borders for international trade.
However, in a statement issued on August 21 and signed by its president, Dr. Joseph Obeng, GUTA raised concern that relevant parties were not contacted prior to the bill’s passage into law.
“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,” part of the statement read.
According to Parliament, the law will provide clarity to the decision of port fees, ensuring accountability in the legitimate movement of international trade cargo across Ghana’s borders.
It also aspires to make Ghana a preferred transit trade channel for her landlocked neighbors Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as well as to increase the sector’s financial contribution to the national budget.
However, GUTA insists that President Akufo-Addo not sign the bill until all of the issues identified have been addressed.
