The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has postponed the implementation of the Smart Port Note (SPN), which was scheduled to take effect on February 1, 2026.
In a notice issued by the Authority, the decision follows an earlier announcement made on December 23, 2025, and is intended to allow for further clarification of outstanding issues that have emerged ahead of the rollout.
The GSA explained that the deferment would enable an additional round of consultations with key stakeholders to ensure alignment and address concerns prior to full implementation.
A new commencement date, the Authority said, will be communicated in due course.
The Smart Port Note initiative is designed to improve trade facilitation at Ghana’s ports by strengthening regulatory compliance, enhancing cargo monitoring, and improving the reliability of shipping and logistics data.
The SPN is being implemented under an agreement between the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute Limited.
Once operational, it will apply to all shipments to and from Ghana, including transit cargo passing through the country’s seaports. The agreement was reached after extensive consultations with a broad range of stakeholders in the trade and logistics sector.
These include the Ghana Union Traders Association, Association of Ghana Industries, Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers Association Ghana, Association of Customs House Agents Ghana, and the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana.
The Authority noted that the Smart Port Note is an advanced shipment information system introduced under the mandate of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority pursuant to Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2190.
The system is to enhance trade facilitation, enforce compliance, improve cargo tracking, and ensure the availability of accurate and reliable shipping and logistics data across Ghana’s ports.
