The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mali Shippers’ Council (CMC) to strengthen and facilitate transit business between the two countries.
It would also enable the two institutions to collaborate to improve transit trade efficiency and logistics coordination while addressing long-standing challenges such as high costs, operational bottlenecks and security concerns along the Ghana corridor.
Other areas of collaboration are the exchange of relevant international trade data, the conduct of joint research studies and the harmonisation of transit procedures between the two countries.
Consequently, a joint technical committee, made up of experts from both sides, would be established to monitor the implementation of the agreement and ensure that key milestones were achieved.
Data from the GSA showed that transit trade contributes substantially to Ghana’s economy, generating over $34 million annually through services linked to cargo handling, haulage operations, freight forwarding, electronic tracking, and fuel supply.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, signed on behalf of Ghana, while the President of the Mali
Shippers’ Council (CMC), Kissima dit Bakissima Sylla, appended his signature for his country.
The signing ceremony, which took place at Bamako, the capital city of Mali, was witnessed by both officials of GSA and CMC, including importers, exporters and other relevant stakeholders.
Partnership
Prof. Gyampo said the agreement did not only represent the continuation of an existing relationship, but the deepening of a strategic collaboration that had been nurtured over the years.
“Our collaboration is anchored on a shared vision to promote efficient, competitive and mutually beneficial shipping and logistics services for the benefit of shippers in both Ghana and Mali,” he said.
Prof. Gyampo said these would be achieved through mutual assistance to shippers, exchange of relevant international trade data, conduct of joint research studies and harmonisation of transit procedures.
The CEO acknowledged that “tariff and non-tariff barriers continue to impede transit trade, negatively affecting the haulage of transit cargo”.
He mentioned high demurrage charges, non-transparent cargo handling, numerous checkpoints, axle load constraints and security concerns as some of the issues affecting shippers on the corridor.
Interventions
Prof. Gyampo, however, said that his outfit had implemented some interventions to address the issues, such as stakeholder engagements, fact-finding missions and the establishment of transit shipper committees.
He explained that with the passage of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), the authority had been empowered to play a stronger role in facilitating transit trade along the country’s corridors.
This would enable the authority to deal more decisively with the challenges that had long impeded the smooth functioning of the transit trade regime in Ghana.
“We are confident that this renewed agreement would further cement the bond of friendship and cooperation between our institutions and our two countries,” Prof. Gyampo added.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh