The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is worried about the posture of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) concerning President Akufo-Addo’s much-expected assent to the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) law, which was passed about some three weeks ago.

The AGI believes that the GSA law as passed has the interest of all players in the shipping and logistics industry at heart and should be supported by the entire business community and all well-meaning Ghanaians.

Expressing surprise at the stance of GUTA, AGI President, Dr. Humphrey Ayim Darke said that, “the GSA Act will reduce significantly, if not totally eliminate arbitrary clearing charges at the ports, and will empower the GSA to act on behalf of the State to hold all players accountable."

"It would make those who engage in unfair business practices that abuse the rights of shippers to account for their acts which in the long run impacts the consumer who patronizes goods and services in the country negatively”.

He added that “rather than stifle businesses, the GSA law will instead empower indigenous Ghanaian businesses to play a meaningful role in the commercial shipping and logistics sector."

The AGI urged that the engagement with stakeholders of the industry which the GSA started just a day after the law was passed, should be leveraged by all concerned to use dialogue to address any concerns they have or envisage.

They believe such an approach is necessary to make Ghana an attractive and competitive trading destination and transit route for international trade, and will guarantee beneficial progress for the commercial trading sector.

It is in this regard that the AGI called on President Akufo-Addo to assent to the law at his earliest convenience in the interest of the majority of the multiple stakeholders of the shipping and logistics sector.