The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has advised importers and exporters to review their shipping contracts and secure adequate insurance amid ongoing disruptions in global shipping routes.
Mr Fred Asiedu Dartey, Freight and Logistics, Ghana Shippers Authority, who gave the advice during a media engagement powered by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), said shippers must understand their obligations under contracts of carriage to determine applicable surcharges and liabilities.
Mr Dartey urged businesses to factor delays into their logistics planning to avoid losses, especially for time-sensitive goods.
“We also encourage shippers to take comprehensive insurance cover because the current risks are extremely high,” he said.
The GSA has also established a complaints desk to assist shippers in resolving disputes with service providers.
He said the GSA recently issued an advisory containing what the shippers should do, adding that the authority tried to give a background of the development and implications and also indicated the surcharges introduced by a number of the shipping lines and the possibility that even bookings might be cancelled, among other things.
Touching on the general issue and what Africa could do, he called for urgent strengthening of intra-African trade systems to reduce the continent’s vulnerability to global disruptions.
Mr Dartey noted that intra-African trade currently stands at about 15 per cent, compared to 60 per cent in Europe and 40 per cent in Asia.
He said poor infrastructure, regulatory barriers, and weak regional coordination continue to hinder trade within Africa.
Captain Francis Kwesi Micah, a Maritime Consultant, emphasised the need for African countries to diversify supply sources and invest in local production, including agriculture and manufacturing.
Captian Micah added that initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area must move from policy to practical implementation to achieve real impact.
They also highlighted the need for investment in regional shipping networks and trade corridors to ease movement of goods across borders.
