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A growing rift has emerged between the Ghana Shippers Authority and the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions over the rollout of new regulatory measures tied to a regional axle load control regime.
The GSA, in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and JAPTU, is preparing to implement the Economic Community of West African States Supplementary Act on Axle Load Control.
The framework is expected to harmonise axle load management across West Africa, improve regulatory compliance and enhance efficiency along key transit corridors. Authorities say the policy will also reduce border delays and facilitate smoother cross-border trade within the sub-region.
As part of the measures, the GSA explained that, under Section 26 of Act 1122 (2024), all haulage drivers will be required to register annually at a fee of GH¢250. Registered operators will receive certification authorising them to operate across ports and transit corridors within Ghana and the wider West African region.
The Authority maintained that the initiative would strengthen institutional support, improve monitoring and promote safer and more efficient transport operations.
However, JAPTU has firmly rejected the proposed charges and regulatory framework, insisting that no agreement has been reached between the parties.
Addressing a press conference in Tema on Friday, April 10, 2026, the National Chairman of JAPTU, Shamsu Babayaro, dismissed claims that transport unions had endorsed the proposals, describing such reports as inaccurate.
“We have not agreed to any proposal presented to us. We were shocked to hear on television that we had accepted them,” he stated.
Mr Babayaro argued that the framework introduces additional financial obligations, including mandatory payments at weighbridges alongside the GH¢250 annual registration fee, which he said would place an undue burden on drivers already facing economic pressure.
He noted that the association had independently registered more than 11,000 drivers nationwide at no cost, issuing identification cards and maintaining a comprehensive database.
He added that state institutions could access such information through appropriate legal and administrative processes instead of introducing new charges.
The union further criticised what it described as limited engagement by key government institutions, including the Ministry of Roads and Highways, revealing that several attempts to secure a meeting with the sector minister had not received any response.
Mr Babayaro also highlighted the difficult working conditions faced by truck drivers, citing poor road infrastructure, security risks along transit routes and frequent vehicle breakdowns.
He stressed that many drivers risk their lives transporting goods to neighbouring countries despite these challenges, often with minimal institutional support.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts to reform the transport sector, he called for broader stakeholder consultation and more inclusive policymaking.
He urged the GSA and relevant agencies to engage transport unions in meaningful dialogue before implementing the measures, warning that imposing additional costs without consensus could have adverse implications for Ghana’s transport and logistics sector.
