GUTA, GIFF raise concern about new Shippers Authority Bill
The President of GUTA, Dr Obeng has thus urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to delay signing the law until those concerns are addressed.
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) have raised concerns about the recently passed Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024.
The President of GUTA, Dr Obeng has thus urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to delay signing the law until those concerns are addressed.
He warned that without proper revisions, the law could hinder business operations and raise costs, a sentiment echoed by GIFF.
The Bill has however received support from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Trader Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), and the Importers & Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG).
The recently passed law is designed to prevent unfair business practices while safeguarding the interests of shippers and consumers.
GUTA's President, Dr. Joseph Obeng, has further voiced concerns regarding the lack of consultation during the law's development.
He pointed to insufficient dialogue on shipment notice submission, late engagement with stakeholders, unresolved permit and license issues, and the reintroduction of the Advanced Shipping Information System.
In contrast, AGI, TAGG, and IEAG issued separate statements on August 23, 2024, expressing surprise at GUTA’s objections.
They emphasized that the GSA has been actively consulting with all relevant stakeholders within the shipping industry concerning the amended law.
Meanwhile, a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Dr. Kofi Mbiah, is calling on all stakeholders of the sector to throw their weight behind the new law because it holds potential benefits for their activities.
He added in an interview with JoyNews that the law would help streamline operations, making them more efficient and predictable.
Dr. Mbiah was therefore surprised at the opposition from stakeholders in the shipping industry adding that while the law might not please everyone, it represented a significant step forward towards the growth of their industry.
