Shippers’ Authority hints of regional standardisation of port charges
The GSA says the decision is part of efforts to streamline port charges for the benefit of shippers in the wake of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has hinted of moves to standardise port charges in the West Africa sub-region.
The GSA said the decision is part of efforts to streamline port charges for the benefit of shippers in the wake of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GSA, Benonita Bismarck, gave the hint when a 15-member delegation from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College paid a courtesy call on the GSA to familiarise itself with the operations of the Authority and to pick up lessons to improve upon customs services in Nigeria.
Bismarck said the GSA recently participated in the inaugural meeting of the Committee of Experts on Transport Costs held in Abuja this month to streamline port charges in the sub-region.
Uniformity in charges
“The expert body made up of sector players has been tasked to come up with a framework to guide operations at the port. The hope is to have some uniformity in port charges in the sub-region to spur regional economic growth,” Bismarck said.
She reiterated the important economic role Ghana and Nigeria play in the sub-region and mentioned various collaborations between the two countries in the shipping and logistics sector which have helped improve service delivery at the ports.
She also used the opportunity to encourage the Nigerian Customs Officers to put in their best to promote Intra Africa Trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
A presentation was made on the operations of the GSA and its contribution to improving shipping and logistics services in Ghana.
The 15-member delegation was made up of the Comptroller of Customs Olatunji Aremu, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies for the Staff College, three members of the directing staff, 10 students and a member of the administrative staff.
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