The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has stepped up enforcement of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), amid rising concerns over its implementation and effectiveness in regulating Ghana’s shipping and logistics sector.

In a statement issued Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the Authority defended its actions following the transformation of the GSA into a regulatory body under the new law, which was passed by Parliament in July 2024 and assented to by the President in October that year.

The Act mandates shipping service providers—including shipping lines, freight forwarders, terminal operators, and clearing agents—to submit all proposed fees, charges, and tariffs to the GSA for review and approval before implementation. The Authority said it has already enforced this provision, rejecting some proposed fee hikes for lacking commercial justification.

Responding to claims that the GSA’s regulatory stance could stifle trade, the Authority maintained that its approach is collaborative, not adversarial, involving in-depth investigations, hearings, and stakeholder engagement to ensure fairness.

The GSA also revealed it is working with the Bank of Ghana to address complaints from shippers and freight forwarders over the alleged arbitrary application of foreign exchange rates by some shipping lines.

A high-level meeting between the GSA, BoG, and industry stakeholders was held on July 15 to resolve the issue. A directive from the BoG is expected this week.

To support full enforcement of the Act, the GSA said it is consulting regulators across all transport modes—air, sea, and land—to draft the Legislative Instrument that will operationalise the law.

The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the interests of all stakeholders and positioning Ghana as a preferred trade hub in the region.