The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has expressed strong confidence in the newly appointed maritime leaders, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali and Prof. Ransford Gyampo, as they step into their roles as Acting Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Samson A. Awingobit, Executive Secretary of IEAG, emphasized that the appointments come at a crucial time for Ghana’s maritime and trade industry. “This is not just a recognition from the President—it is a call to duty,” Awingobit said. “Dr. Ali and Prof. Gyampo have been selected based on their proven competence and leadership capabilities. Industry players have high expectations, and we are confident they will meet the challenge head-on.”
The Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana Shippers’ Authority are instrumental in ensuring smooth shipping operations, enforcing regulatory oversight, and creating an enabling business environment for importers and exporters. Their roles are critical in addressing longstanding issues that have affected the nation’s ports, such as bureaucratic delays, high port charges, inconsistent trade policies, and logistical inefficiencies.
IEAG has pledged full support to the new leaders and is ready to collaborate closely with them. “We believe that through effective engagement and proactive reforms, we can overcome the challenges that have long hindered the operational efficiency of Ghana’s maritime sector,” Awingobit added. “Our goal is to implement practical solutions that promote ease of doing business and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness in the global trade arena.”
As the country looks forward to transformational changes in its maritime and shipping sectors, stakeholders across the industry are optimistic that the reforms initiated under the new leadership will drive improvements not only in operational efficiency but also in the overall business climate. The IEAG’s commitment to working with Dr. Ali and Prof. Gyampo underscores a united effort to support traders and bolster the national economy.
With a clear mandate to streamline operations and modernize regulatory frameworks, the appointments mark the beginning of what many hope will be a new era of efficiency and growth in Ghana’s maritime industry.
Below is the Full Press Release
IEAG Confident in Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali and Prof. Ransford Gyampo to Transform Ghana’s Maritime Sector
Accra, Ghana – February 7, 2025
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali on his appointment as the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority and to Prof. Ransford Gyampo as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority.
Their appointments come at a crucial time for Ghana’s maritime and trade industry, and we urge them to see this responsibility not just as a recognition from the President but as a call to duty. Their selection is based on their competence and ability to lead these two vital institutions, and industry players have high expectations of them.
As key institutions in Ghana’s maritime sector, the Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana Shippers’ Authority play pivotal roles in ensuring smooth shipping operations, regulatory oversight, and creating a conducive business environment for importers and exporters. It is imperative that these new leaders take up the challenge of reforming these institutions to become more efficient, transparent, and business-friendly.
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana is fully prepared to collaborate with Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali and Prof. Ransford Gyampo to achieve their goals and targets for the trade and maritime sectors. We believe that through effective engagement, we can tackle the longstanding challenges that have hindered the smooth operations of businesses in Ghana’s ports, including bureaucratic delays, high port charges, inconsistent trade policies, and logistical inefficiencies.
We also call on them to be proactive in addressing the difficulties that importers and exporters have faced over the years, ensuring that policies and operations within the maritime industry promote ease of doing business. Their leadership must bring about practical solutions that will enhance Ghana’s competitiveness in the global trade space.
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana looks forward to working closely with these newly appointed leaders to transform Ghana’s maritime and shipping sector for the betterment of traders and the national economy.
Signed:
Samson A. Awingobit
Executive Secretary
Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana