Ghana Shippers Authority Registration: Importers Say No Cause for Alarm

Registration Requirement Takes Effect Next Year

Ghana's importers and exporters will be required to complete mandatory registration with the Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA) from 3 August 2026, when enforcement begins on the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) platform. The directive implements Section 26(1) of the Ghana Shippers' Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), which mandates all shippers to register.

No New Taxes or Burdens, Says Industry Body

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has moved to ease concerns about the registration requirement, with Executive Secretary Samson Asaki Awingobit telling traders there is no need for "fear and panic". He emphasised that the exercise is not intended to introduce new taxes or place additional financial strain on businesses. "This is not a new thing," he said, noting that the GSA is a statutory body legally required to regulate the shipping industry.

The annual registration fee remains GH¢150 under the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2512). Registration is valid for 12 calendar months and covers all shipment transactions undertaken during that period.

Industry Cooperation on Regulatory Requirement

Awingobit stressed that the Association has already discussed the matter with the GSA and views the registration as a routine regulatory function rather than an attempt to burden the business community. The Ghana Shippers' Authority has called on all importers and exporters yet to complete the process to do so before the implementation date to ensure uninterrupted shipping and trade operations.