The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) has firmly rejected any form of import licensing or permit regime, expressing strong opposition to the Ghana Shippers Authority Act, 2024.
The association is urging President Nana Akufo-Addo not to sign the Act into law until critical concerns raised by stakeholders are fully addressed.
In a press release signed by GUTA President, Dr. Joseph Obeng, the association outlined several issues with the Act, which they argue was developed without adequate consultation with key stakeholders in the shipping industry.
Among the contentious points is the introduction of a registration process for shippers and shipping service providers, as well as the requirement for submitting notices of shipment—both of which were not thoroughly discussed with those impacted.
GUTA also criticized the process by which the Act was passed, noting that stakeholders only received the final draft after it had already been approved by Parliament.
This, they argue, left little room for meaningful input on crucial provisions related to the suspension, renewal, cancellation, and outright rejection of registration certificates—essentially imposing a licensing and permit system on importers.
A significant point of concern for GUTA is the reintroduction of the Advance Shipment Information System, a measure that had previously been resisted and withdrawn by the government.
The association maintains that this system is irrelevant to the operations of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) and remains staunchly opposed to its inclusion in the Act.
While the GSA had suggested that these concerns could be addressed through Legislative Instruments (LIs) during the Act’s operationalization, GUTA remains unconvinced.
he association’s consultations indicate that LIs cannot override the provisions of an Act, prompting their appeal to the President to withhold assent until all issues are satisfactorily resolved.
Dr Obeng emphasized that the business community is united in its rejection of any import licensing or permit regime, warning of the potential negative impact on Ghana’s trade environment if the Act is enacted without addressing these critical concerns.
