The Advocate for Indigenous Freight Forwarders (AIFF) has formally commended the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) for suspending the implementation of the Shippers Permit Number to allow for further stakeholder engagement, describing the move as a positive demonstration of responsive and inclusive leadership.
In a statement signed by its Convenor, Dr. Godfred Mawuli Tettey, the Advocate said the decision reflects the GSA’s willingness to listen to concerns raised by indigenous freight forwarders, traders, and other actors within Ghana’s shipping and logistics sector.
According to AIFF, the suspension highlights the importance of consultation-driven policymaking in an industry where regulatory decisions have direct implications for trade costs, port efficiency, and national economic competitiveness.
“The decision affirms the value of dialogue and inclusive engagement, particularly in a sector as critical as shipping and trade facilitation,” the statement said.
The Advocate noted that the pause in implementation provides a timely opportunity for broad-based, constructive discussions aimed at resolving key concerns surrounding the Shippers Permit Number, including its cost implications, operational practicality, and potential duplication of existing port and customs systems such as the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
AIFF expressed optimism that the forthcoming engagements would be transparent, solution-oriented, and involve all relevant stakeholders, including freight forwarders, trader associations, port operators, and regulatory agencies.
The group further stated that it is confident the consultative process will lead to outcomes that strike a balance between regulatory objectives and on-the-ground realities, ultimately inuring to the mutual benefit of government institutions, industry players, and the wider Ghanaian economy.
Reaffirming its position, the Advocate pledged its readiness to engage constructively with the Ghana Shippers Authority and other state bodies to advance efficient trade facilitation, reduce the cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports, and protect the sustainability of indigenous freight forwarding companies, in line with national development priorities.
The suspension of the Shippers Permit Number follows weeks of debate within the maritime and logistics industry, during which stakeholders raised concerns about the potential impact of the policy on trade competitiveness, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
As at the time of filing this report, the Ghana Shippers Authority had not released details on the scope or timeline of the proposed stakeholder consultations. However, industry analysts say the Authority’s decision signals a readiness to recalibrate the policy through dialogue and collaboration rather than unilateral implementation.
Stakeholders across the shipping and logistics value chain are now looking to the forthcoming engagements to shape a consensus-driven framework that supports efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainable growth at Ghana’s ports.