A coalition of exporters, importers and traders has kicked against plans by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) to make the Smart Port Note (SPN) mandatory from February 1, 2026, warning that the policy could raise the cost of doing business and undermine ongoing trade facilitation efforts.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Michael Obiri-Adjei, the Coalition of Concerned Exporters, Importers and Traders said it had carefully reviewed the GSA’s notice on the rollout of the SPN and found the initiative “unjustified, duplicative and burdensome” for players in the trade sector.

According to the group, the GSA has failed to provide a clear policy paper to justify claims that the SPN will enhance cargo monitoring, compliance and trade facilitation. “From all indications, the Smart Port Note appears primarily designed to generate revenue for a private service provider, Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute (IOMLI), rather than to protect shippers from avoidable costs,” Mr Obiri-Adjei stated.

The Coalition also questioned the legal basis for the SPN, arguing that advance shipment notification and pre-shipment inspection are outside the mandate of the GSA and could potentially clash with the Ghana Revenue Authority’s destination inspection regime. It further noted that there is no public evidence of coordination with, or approval from, the GRA for the introduction of the system.

Addressing assurances that the SPN would not impose additional costs on traders, the Coalition dismissed the claim as misleading. Mr Obiri-Adjei explained that any fees charged to exporters at the point of origin would ultimately be passed on to importers and consumers in Ghana, increasing prices across the supply chain.

The statement also pointed to Ghana’s existing Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), which already provides cargo tracking, data capture and risk profiling, describing the SPN as an unnecessary extra layer that could slow down trade rather than facilitate it.

The Coalition has therefore called on the GSA to suspend the planned rollout and subject the policy to a full review. It urged broader stakeholder engagement and appealed to relevant ministries to focus on reforms that genuinely reduce the cost of doing business and support Ghana’s trade competitiveness and economic growth.