As part of efforts to make shipping a
cost-effective venture for importers and exporters, the Ghana Shippers’
Authority (GSA) has held an engagement with the Ghana Union of Traders
Association (GUTA) and the Committee of Freight Forwarders' Association (COFFA)
on ways to reduce the cost of shipping.
The
meeting which was held in Accra on June 14, 2022 was facilitated by the GSA in
line with its mandate to protect and promote the interest of shippers in the
country.
The
GSA has prioritised the education and sensitisation of shippers on the
avoidance of demurrage as part of its activities for the year.
A solution to delays at the ports is
needed to shield companies from the brunt of rising demurrages, which rose from
US$40 million in 2010 to US$100 million in 2016.
Timely
clearance of cargo will also ensure that the turnaround times of shipowners and
shipping lines are reduced, and that could help improve their earning
abilities.
The
executives of GUTA and COFFA present at the meeting underlined the consistent
increase in freight with the advent of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and demurrage
– cost incurred for overstayed cargo – as their major operational cost elements
and hoped that measures would be put in place to address them.
Improve
trade
The
Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, Benonita Bismarck, assured the leadership
of the GUTA and COFFA that the authority would continue to work to improve
trade at the ports by reducing the bottlenecks involved in shipping.
She
reiterated the GSA’s commitment to deepening its relationship with the freight
forwarders as key stakeholders in the industry.
She
added that GSA would continue to collaborate on diverse issues for the
advancement of the shipping and logistics industry, particularly in the
interest of shippers in the country.
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, 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.
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.
Source:Graphic.com