The Ghana Shippers’ Authority has intensified efforts to support the Government of Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy Policy through a series of digital, regulatory and operational interventions aimed at improving efficiency within the country’s shipping and logistics sector.
The Authority says the policy presents a major opportunity to reposition Ghana as a competitive trade and logistics hub in West Africa by ensuring continuous operations across ports, transit corridors and supply chains.
Under the government’s broader 24-Hour Economy agenda, institutions within the trade and logistics value chain are expected to operate beyond conventional working hours to facilitate faster cargo movement, improve productivity and reduce the cost of doing business.
According to the Authority, the shipping and logistics sector naturally aligns with the policy because international trade operates around the clock, with vessels arriving at ports continuously and cargo movements requiring constant coordination among shipping lines, freight forwarders, customs officials, transport operators and regulatory agencies.
The Authority noted that uninterrupted port and logistics operations are expected to reduce cargo clearance delays, improve vessel turnaround time and enhance cargo evacuation from the ports. This, it said, would strengthen Ghana’s competitiveness as a maritime gateway for both domestic and transit trade within the West African sub-region.
As part of its contribution to the policy implementation, the GSA has introduced several technology-driven interventions to provide 24-hour support services to shippers and logistics operators.
One of the flagship initiatives is the introduction of the ShippersApp, a digital complaint management platform that allows shippers to report excessive charges, cargo delays, unjustified penalties and other logistics-related challenges at any time of the day. The Authority explained that the platform enhances accessibility to regulatory support services while improving response times and dispute resolution processes.
In addition to the app, frontline officers and complaint-handling executives have been equipped with dedicated mobile phones to receive and respond to complaints beyond regular office hours, including during night operations at the ports.
The Authority has also operationalized a dedicated E-Platform for monitoring transit corridor challenges, enabling transporters and shippers to report delays, unofficial charges, harassment and disruptions along Ghana’s transit routes in real time.
To strengthen regulatory oversight under the 24-hour framework, the GSA has intensified night-time monitoring activities at the ports and airports. Officers of the Authority now undertake regular monitoring exercises during night operations to identify bottlenecks affecting cargo clearance and logistics efficiency.
The Authority stated that the increased visibility of officers during night operations provides assurance to shippers and cargo operators of continuous regulatory supervision and protection of their interests.
Beyond operational monitoring, the GSA says it continues to engage shipping lines, terminal operators and other stakeholders to advocate reforms aimed at reducing avoidable port charges and improving service delivery standards within the shipping and logistics chain.
Despite the progress made, the Authority acknowledged several challenges confronting the effective implementation of 24-hour maritime operations. These include high operational costs, security concerns during night-time activities, staffing and shift management constraints, inadequate infrastructure in some operational areas, energy reliability issues and limited inter-agency coordination.
However, the Authority expressed confidence that the challenges are surmountable and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the national policy.
It emphasized that sustained collaboration among government institutions, port operators, logistics service providers and trade stakeholders would be critical to ensuring that the shipping industry contributes effectively to Ghana’s economic transformation, regional trade integration and long-term economic growth.
The Authority further reiterated that efficient ports, responsive regulatory institutions and reliable logistics systems remain essential pillars for the success of Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy agenda.
Story By: Eric Boateng
