Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) is raising critical concerns over the passage of the Ghana Shippers Authority Act, 2024 by parliament.
The union says the act in its current state, if implemented, would be inimical to their businesses hence calling on President Akufo-Addo to withhold assenting to the act.
In a statement signed by the President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng copied to The High Street Journal, the union complains that the act lacked critical stakeholder engagement leading to unresolved concerns that can negatively impact their businesses as traders.
According to GUTA, key provisions in the law, including the registration of shippers, submission of notice of shipment, and the introduction of an Advance Shipment Information System, were never discussed with industry players before being included in the final draft.
“The issue of registration of shippers and shipping service providers was not discussed with us to make our input as stakeholders in the shipping industry. Submission of notice of shipment was also not discussed with stakeholders for their input,” GUTA stated in the statement adding that “the final draft was issued to stakeholders only after Parliament had approved the Bill.”
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Although GUTA admits that the Ghana Shippers Authority has considered their concerns and has promised that they correct every anomaly in the act with a Legislative Instrument (LI) since the act has already been passed, the union insists on correcting the act itself given the power of an act over an LI.
“Our consultations suggest that LIs cannot override an Act, hence our call on the President of the Republic not to assent to the Act until all issues raised are resolved,” the statement noted.
Parliament of Ghana on Monday, 29th July passed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, into law following its successful 3rd reading on the floor of the House.
Among others, the law which amends its 50 years old establishment law, NRCD 254 (1974) is aimed at regulating commercial activities of shippers, and will primarily address the issue of unfair and excessive charges that burden traders who use Ghana’s sea and airports, as well as land borders to ply their international trade.
The law is also expected to introduce transparency in the determination of port fees, and will by that, ensure that there is accountability in the legal movement of international trade cargo across all of the borders of Ghana.
Moreover, it also aims to make Ghana a preferred transit trade channel for her landlocked neighbors, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger; and overall, enhance the sector’s revenue contribution to the national purse. But GUTA is attempting to block the President from assenting to the Act over critical industry concerns emanating from a lack of broad stakeholder engagement at the drafting stage.
