Ghana Shippers Authority gets office complex

After more than 30 years of operating from rented offices, the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) last Friday inaugurated its multi-purpose office complex to serve as its head office.

Financed by Ecobank Ghana and constructed by Berock Ventures, a wholly Ghanaian-owned construction firm, the 12-floor edifice, located at Ridge in Accra, will house West Africa’s first brokerage hall where ship brokerage and other logistics will be undertaken.

Facilities 

Christened Ghana Shippers House, it  will also be home to a Maritime Arbitration Centre which the Chief Executive of the authority, Dr Kofi Mbiah, said would complement the process necessary to make Ghana a seat of international commercial maritime arbitration.

Other facilities in the imposing complex dominating the skyline of Ridge in Accra include a 540-seater conference room named after Mr M.T. Adico, a former Chief Executive of the authority; a board room, committee rooms, a knowledge and information centre, a restaurant, surface and underground car parks for more than 300 cars and a number of offices.

Dr Mbiah stated that the $16.5-million structure which started in 2010 would facilitate trade and transport in the country and improve its economic growth prospects.

“Undoubtedly, this facility will enable us to serve shippers better, as there will be a dedicated hall for receiving and addressing shipper complaints and providing shippers with information on all matters relating to their business endeavours,” he stated. 

Excellence and dedicated service 

The Minister of Transport, Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, who cut the ribbon to inaugurate the office on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, was of the expectation that the building would provide an atmosphere for dedicated and excellent services for the shipping community, both locally and internationally. 

He commended the handiwork of the consultants and the construction company, saying “they have shown that given the encouragement and support, Ghanaian companies can rise to the occasion and match competition coming from outside”.

He urged the corporate world to patronise the spaces available for rent in the building to enable the authority to raise revenue to pay back its loan.

Maintenance culture

While praising the authority, he urged it to put in the necessary mechanisms to ensure that the building was properly managed and maintained for future generations.

“This calls for regular and periodic maintenance to ensure that the integrity of the property is guaranteed at all times,” he said.   

On the port expansion project, he said the financial terms had been agreed and an announcement to that effect would be made in the coming weeks.

A former Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Mr Albert Essien, who was the guest of honour for the occasion, added his voice to the call to enforce a strict maintenance regime for the building, saying: “With this giant leap comes the challenge for greater achievements. I trust that you will rise to the occasion. That will also include a plan for the continuous maintenance of the building so that 50 years from now when it has lost its shine and lustre, embedded in it will be a living monument worth its history.”