The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has praised a new digital system introduced by the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions (JAPTU), describing it as a timely innovation with the potential to reduce smuggling, improve professionalism, and cut transport costs along Ghana’s key trade corridors to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The commendation followed a presentation by JAPTU during a meeting of the Transit Shipper Committee held on Thursday, April 10th, 2025, at the Shippers’ House in Accra. At the meeting, the union outlined progress on the implementation of the Driver Vehicle Management System (DVMS)—a platform developed to register and track cargo truck drivers and their vehicles operating within Ghana’s transit trade sector.
More than 4,500 drivers and over 4,200 trucks have so far been registered onto the system. The DVMS captures biometric and vehicle data in real time, with registration completed in under ten minutes. Its core function is to eliminate impersonation, unauthorized access to cargo, and vehicle theft—risks that have plagued transit operations for years. The data is instantly synced to a central platform, with access granted to enforcement agencies for compliance monitoring at ports and cargo loading points.
The system allows for live verification of driver identities and vehicles, ensuring that only pre-authorized personnel are granted access to goods in transit. It is also fully integrated with shipment tracking systems, adding a new layer of security and transparency.
Participants at the meeting were informed that the platform includes incentives such as JAPTU’s Fuel Discount Card Programme. This benefit, secured through partnerships with licensed fuel providers, offers cost relief to truck operators, who are often burdened by rising fuel prices. The discount scheme is expected to lower the overall cost of road transportation for traders and logistics firms operating across the corridor.
GSA, in its response, welcomed the initiative and the leadership demonstrated by JAPTU. The GSA’s Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Operations, Ms. Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu said that the platform demonstrated the union’s commitment to self-regulation and would help foster discipline among drivers. “We are not merely impressed—we are encouraged,” Ms. Owu stated. “This is the kind of forward-thinking intervention our corridor trade has long needed. It reflects a maturity in the industry that we must support and institutionalize.”
Also speaking at the meeting, Head of Operations at GSA, Mrs. Monica Josiah stressed the need for stronger institutional collaboration between GSA and JAPTU. She said that closer cooperation would ensure effective enforcement and improve traffic volumes on Ghana’s international transit routes.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders from the sub-region, including officials from the Shippers’ Councils of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. Their presence signaled growing regional interest in digital solutions that can improve safety, reduce fraud, and boost the competitiveness of overland transport corridors linking coastal ports to the Sahel.
JAPTU’s digital system marks a notable attempt by industry actors to restore order to a sector that has long struggled with informality, limited accountability, and cross-border vulnerabilities. Its full impact, however, will depend on sustained compliance, regulatory support, and regional harmonization of standards across the corridor network.
