Ms. Slyvia Owu, GSA Deputy CEO, Technical and Prince Ankrah, GSA Deputy CEO, Operations
Truck drivers and haulage operators were engaged on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Tema by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) during a sensitisation workshop focused on Ghana’s new shipping legislation and ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the country’s transit corridors.
The event, held at the New Truck Park in Community One, centred on the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024-Act 1122 (2024).
It brought together key stakeholders in the transport and logistics chain.
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority chaired the event, which also saw participation from the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions (JAPTU), the Chemicals Control and Management Centre of the Environmental Protection Authority, and senior GSA officials, including Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Technical) Mrs. Sylvia Asana Owu, Head of Operations Mrs. Monica Josiah, and Eastern Zonal Manager Mr. Charles Darling Sey.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, GSA’s Deputy Chief Executive (Operations), Mr. Prince Henry Ankrah, described Ghana’s transit corridors as vital economic lifelines.
He noted that operators from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali continue to rely on Ghana’s road networks for the transportation of inbound and outbound cargo.
Mr. Ankrah stated that Ghana earns over US$34 million annually from transit trade through port handling, haulage services, and fuel sales.
However, he lamented that excessive charges, poor road infrastructure, and numerous checkpoints are undermining Ghana’s competitiveness in the sub-regional transit market.
According to him, Act 1122 (2024) empowers GSA to approve charges, regulate service conditions, and streamline operations for all stakeholders involved in international cargo movement.
He explained that the new law marks a shift toward a more disciplined and predictable trade environment, one where services must meet clear standards and provide value for money. GSA, he added, is actively working with key agencies to clamp down on extortion and inefficiencies along transit routes.
Citing findings from a March 2025 fact-finding mission along the Tema–Hamile corridor, Mr. Ankrah reported 67 police stops, including 46 permanent and 21 temporary barriers, as well as seven customs posts, eight immigration checkpoints, and six axle load stations.
He described these as major impediments to trade and warned that failure to address them could cost Ghana its status as the preferred transit route for Sahelian countries.
He further noted that since 2018, GSA has conducted quarterly corridor assessments and shared findings with relevant institutions for corrective action.
Additionally, GSA has organised police sensitisation seminars since 2020, beginning in Kumasi and extending to Techiman, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Ho, and Wa, to reduce friction between officers and drivers.
The Ghana Highways Authority provided technical insight during the session. Representing the Authority, Mrs. Elizabeth Arjarquah explained that truck overloading often begins at the loading stage and is typically the result of decisions made by truck owners and their agents.
She emphasised that overloading accelerates road deterioration and increases maintenance costs.
Mrs. Arjarquah also highlighted that ECOWAS and UEMOA have harmonised axle load control regulations, signing a supplementary legal framework in Accra in July 2022. All 15 ECOWAS member states endorsed the agreement, with full implementation expected in 2026.
She further informed participants that every vehicle will now undergo technical inspection before registration and entry into service. The inspection will cover vehicle dimensions, unladen weight (with a full tank), and total laden weight. Trucks that fail to meet these standards, she stressed, will not be permitted to operate.
During the open forum, drivers raised several concerns. Some inquired whether the new number plate delivery system would incur additional costs. Others questioned the lack of consultation with drivers in the development of the new axle load amendments.
Participants also expressed uncertainty about enforcement timelines and called for clearer communication from regulators.
Closing the session, GSA’s Deputy CEO for Technical Services, Madam Sylvia Asana Owu, welcomed the frankness of the discussions and assured drivers that the Authority remains committed to protecting their welfare.
She said the open dialogue reflected mutual respect and urged JAPTU and other unions to deepen cooperation with GSA as reforms progress.
The Tema sensitisation forms part of GSA’s broader strategy to engage directly with those who drive regional trade.
As Ghana seeks to maintain its edge as the gateway for Sahelian economies, GSA believes transparent policies, responsive leadership, and stronger stakeholder dialogue will be critical to achieving that goal.