118 Shipper complaints resolved in 2020
The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has successfully resolved 118 shipper complaints that were presented by shippers under its mandate.
The complaints included delays in arrival of cargo, delays in release of cargo, high demurrage charges, handling charges, exemptions on charges, damage to cargo, refund for handling charges and other charges from shipping service providers.
Advertisement
The Head of Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation of the GSA, Mrs Monica Josiah, this known at the Mid-Review meeting of the GSA at Peduasi in the Eastern Region on August 28.
She noted that the GSA has established Shipper Complaints and Support Units (SCSUs) at vantage locations across the country in order to move its services closer to where shippers operate in order to provide them real-time assistance and find solutions to the challenges confronting them in the course of their business transactions.
Mrs Josiah said there were currently in existence six SCSUs at the country’s entry points namely the Ghana Air Cargo Centre at the Kotoka International Airport, Elubo border, TACOTEL (Takoradi Container Terminal), the Aflao, Akanu and Paga Borders.
She encouraged importers and exporters to contact the GSA if they were confronting problems in the shipment of their cargo.
Read: Spark Up Summit: We're working towards a 5% growth rate - President assures
Protecting shippers
The GSA was established by NRCD 254 of 1974 to, among others, effectively manage the demand side of Ghana’s shipping industry with a view to protecting the interests of Ghanaian shippers in relation to port, ship, inland transportation and other ancillary problems with a view to ensuring a quick, safe, reliable and cost-effective delivery of cargo for the shipper in Ghana.
Since its establishment four decades ago, the Authority has worked closely with other sectors of the industry in protecting and promoting the interests of Ghanaian shippers and ensured the provision of relevant logistics for the growth of shipping and trade in the country.
Read: First Deputy Speaker leads Parliamentary delegation to IPU’s Fifth World Speakers Confab
Education of shippers
The GSA upholds the need to educate and sensitise shippers, the business community and other relevant stakeholders in order to assist them improve upon their knowledge and skills and also adopt best business practices.
The education programmes take the form of seminars, conferences and workshops. These programmes are held across the nation.
The GSA regularly holds open fora in order to interact with importers, exporters and traders in their trading localities to learn of problems confronting them in their day-to-day business transactions. Several of these fora have been held for members of the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) around the country over the years.
Read: Rice factory opens at Sefwi Akontombra
National Shippers’ Day
The GSA also holds a National Shippers’ Day (NSD) biennially to bring together suppliers and consumers of shipping services in Ghana.
Instituted in 1997, the NSD has become a national platform for interaction among key players along Ghana’s international trade and transport chain, including shippers (exporters/importers), ship owners, port authorities, freight forwarders, customs, multimodal transport operators and other ancillary service providers.
It is an occasion for all the stakeholders in the industry to deliberate on issues affecting the trade and the transport sectors of the country’s economy.
