The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Professor Ransford Gyampo, has announced a raft of austerity and ethical leadership measures aimed at reviving the institution’s finances and rebuilding public confidence.

His intervention comes in the wake of what he described as a deeply constrained financial situation inherited upon assuming office.

Speaking in an interview with Adom FM, Professor Gyampo revealed that the Authority's fiscal woes stemmed largely from the previous administration’s decision to consolidate excess funds from various state agencies to meet national obligations, such as the payment of bondholders.

While he acknowledged the necessity of such national commitments, he noted that it had left institutions like the GSA “gasping for air.”

To address the situation, Professor Gyampo has initiated what he calls an “innovative austerity agenda,” prioritising operational efficiency and ethical stewardship. The reforms include a strict suspension of all non-essential international travel, with a policy mandating economy class for all staff, including the CEO.

“I may be the only CEO in Ghana who does that today,” he said, “but it is unthinkable and unethical to indulge in opulence while the institution I lead is bleeding.”

Further cost-saving measures include reviewing and renegotiating existing contracts to ensure better value for money. In addition, certain staff incentives have been temporarily suspended to help realign the Authority’s expenditure with its financial capabilities.

In a strong demonstration of personal commitment, Professor Gyampo disclosed that he uses an old official vehicle strictly for work-related duties and relies on his private car for personal engagements.