As part of efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in the commercial shipping sector, the CEO of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Prof. Ransford E. V. Gyampo, has held talks with air freight stakeholders at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
The engagement included a meeting with the management of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), the Agency mandated to plan, develop, manage, and maintain all airports in Ghana, including KIA. This interaction follows similar engagements with stakeholders in the sea and land freight sectors.
In addition to the engagement with GACL, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, in the company of top management members, paid a working visit to the offices of two major ground handling and cargo companies — Aviance Ghana and Swissport Ghana. The GSA delegation also held a separate meeting with freight forwarders operating at the Kotoka International Airport to deepen stakeholder collaboration and address operational concerns.
Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL).
The Managing Director of GACL, Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, welcomed the GSA team and congratulated Prof. Gyampo on his appointment. She reaffirmed GACL’s commitment to working collaboratively with state institutions to ensure smooth and mutually beneficial operations.
“We are always ready to support GSA’s operations, and as we have collaborated in the past, we will continue to engage with you to improve the sector,” she said.
Prof. Gyampo recounted his visits to key sea freight stakeholders such as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Meridian Port Services (MPS), and various shipping lines. He also referenced engagements with land freight stakeholders including the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ghana Immigration Service at Aflao, Kpoglo, and Akanu-Noepe borders, as well as freight forwarders operating in those areas.
He explained that these visits are aimed at collecting first-hand information and encouraging all stakeholders to work towards achieving President John Mahama’s vision of boosting economic growth by reducing the cost of doing business in Ghana.
He added that, with the enactment of the GSA Act 2024 (Act 1122), all shippers and shipping service providers are expected to adhere to a reasonable level of standards to improve their operations and ensure greater predictability for businesses.
“Our role is to protect the interests of shippers — whether by sea, land, or air — while also recognising the concerns of shipping service providers. We will incorporate operating standards into our Legislative Instrument (LI) to ensure that all sector players perform their duties diligently,” Prof. Gyampo said.
Mrs. Afriyie Opare welcomed the approach and encouraged continued collaboration between the GSA and GACL.
Aviance Ghana
At Aviance Ghana, Managing Director Mr. Mark Kamis expressed appreciation for the longstanding collaboration with the GSA and looked forward to enhanced engagement. He congratulated Prof. Gyampo on his appointment and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s global visibility.
“We are doing well. We want to continue contributing our quota to making Ghana visible globally through our work,” he said.
Prof. Gyampo emphasised that a key objective of the visit was to identify and address air freight issues that impact the cost of doing business.
“We are here to listen and collaborate with you. Let’s create a win-win situation. The GSA exists to safeguard the interests of all players in the commercial shipping sector — both shippers and service providers — to ensure that your investments in Ghana continue to thrive,” he stated. Mr. Kamis was impressed by the CEO’s vision and promised to work closely with the GSA to help stimulate economic activity.
Swissport Ghana
At Swissport Ghana, Managing Director Mr. Gerald Suckling lamented the unstable performance of the sector in recent years. He noted that the decline in the production of perishable and non-perishable goods in the country has caused some cargo airlines to halt operations in Ghana, negatively affecting Swissport’s business.
He also pointed out that, despite being the largest and most patronised cargo handler over the years, Swissport is currently seeing a drop in exports. He cited the delayed clearance of goods — largely due to importers’ poor preparation and funding issues — as another key challenge.
Prof. Gyampo acknowledged the concerns and highlighted the need to create a conducive business environment to safeguard investments such as those made by Swissport.
“We must work together to attract and retain business in Ghana. We are committed to addressing your concerns and creating a favourable business climate for all. This is essential to protecting the interests of both shippers and service providers,” he stated.
Mrs. Monica Josiah, Head of Operations at the GSA, took the opportunity to commend Swissport for the positive feedback it received in the GSA’s Service Level Survey.
Meeting with Freight Forwarders
During a meeting with executives of Freight Forwarder Associations operating at KIA, several concerns were raised regarding operational challenges negatively affecting shippers.
Key amongst them was the frequent breakdown of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), which plays a crucial role in the clearance process. The freight forwarders complained that outages of the ICUMS system sometimes last more than a day, leading to delays and increased costs, which are ultimately passed on to shippers.
They also criticised the slow responsiveness of certain State Agencies involved in the clearance process, saying it often results in bribery.
“One agency advertises 24-hour permit issuance, but in reality, it takes two or more days. Without their permit, we cannot proceed, and this causes delays,” one freight forwarder explained.
Another added, “Due to weight discrepancies, we cannot use the pre-clearance option in ICUMS. Often, the declared weight differs from the actual weight upon arrival, forcing us to restart the process. That’s why we prefer to begin clearance only after the consignment arrives.”
Mrs. Josiah urged freight forwarders to report such issues to the Shipper Support Unit at KIA with adequate evidence. The GSA, she assured, will investigate and demand refunds or redress where applicable.
Prof. Gyampo also encouraged the freight forwarders to operate within the law to ensure that the GSA can advocate effectively on their behalf.
“We will not shield anyone — I want to be clear about that. Do your work in line with the law, and we will always support you,” he concluded.
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