By: Kobina Baidoo
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has expressed profound disagreement with the introduction of a new Ghana Shippers Authority Bill – soon to be assented to law by the President of Ghana.
The Act which introduces new measures to enhance transparency, improve service delivery, and ensure that the shipping industry operates in a way that supports Ghana’s economic development, was described by GUTA as the genesis of an import licensing or permit regime.
The Union, in a press statement released on Wednesday, addressed President Akufo-Addo, outlinining a number of issues that need to be attended to before he assents the Ghana Shippers Authority Act, 2024. “The Business community wishes toappeal to the President of the Republic not to assent to the Ghana Shippers Authority Act, 2024 until some critical issues raised
on the Act by stakeholders are resolved.” a part of the statement read.
The statement which was signed by President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association outlined key issues which included the exclusion of the Union from the decision making process of the Act, the absence of shipment notice to the Union, the submission of the final draft after Parliament had approved the Bill, unresolved issues related to permits and licenses to operate as importers, the reintroduction of the Advance Information Shipment System into the Act after previously being opposed and withdrawn.
The Union indicated that initial attempts to use the Li to correct all defects and anomalies of the Act have proven futile. The Ghana Union of Traders Association herevy appeals to the President no to assent the Act until all issues are resolved.
“For these reasons, the Ghana Shippers Authority had agreed to our concerns and promised that as the Act has already been passed by Parliament, they would use Legislative Instruments (LIs) to correct any defect or anomaly in the operationalization of the Act. However, our consultations suggest that LIs cannot override an Act, hence our call on the President of the Republic not to assent to the Act until all issues raised are resolved.”