The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has concluded a comprehensive investigation into the use of non-sanctioned exchange rates by some shipping lines, in violation of the official Bank of Ghana (BoG) rates.
“Some shipping lines are applying their own arbitrary exchange rates. We have completed our investigations and submitted the findings to the Bank of Ghana for necessary action,” said Professor Ransford Gyampo, Chief Executive Officer of the GSA.
The Authority has urged all shipping lines operating in Ghana to comply with the country’s regulatory framework and cease using unapproved exchange rates.
In a statement issued by the Authority, the GSA also disclosed that it has rejected proposed fee increases by several shipping lines and ground handling service providers operating at Kotoka International Airport, describing the justifications for the hikes as commercially unsubstantiated.
“Management will engage stakeholders further to discuss the matter,” the statement added.
The GSA emphasized that under its expanded mandate—granted through the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122)—it has assumed regulatory authority but maintains an inquisitorial rather than adversarial approach to enforcement.
“Mindful of the need to foster a business-friendly environment, especially in international trade, the GSA’s regulatory stance is designed to inquire and engage, not to antagonize,” the statement explained.
To bolster its enforcement capacity, the GSA is currently drafting a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to operationalize Act 1122. This process includes broad consultations with key stakeholders, such as sea, air, and land transport regulators, terminal operators, and shipping lines.
“This collaborative process underscores the GSA’s commitment to enforcing the law impartially and without fear or favour,” the statement concluded.
