The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) hereby informs the shipping public that it has entered into an agreement with Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute Limited for the implementation of the Smart Port Note (SPN) system for all shipments to and from Ghana, including transit cargoes through the country’s seaports. This agreement was signed after extensive consultations with shippers and stakeholders including the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG), Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Customs Brokers Association Ghana (CUBAG), Association of Customs House Agents Ghana (ACHAG) and Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana (FFAG).
The SPN is an advanced shipment information system and is being introduced pursuant to the mandate of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority under L.I. 2190 to enhance trade facilitation, cargo monitoring, compliance enforcement, and the availability of reliable shipping and logistics data. The Authority wishes to clarify that the SPN, a form of advanced shipment information system described above, is an export-oriented data requirement and does not impose any cost on importers or consignees in Ghana. Applicable service fees shall be paid only by exporters in the country of origin, in line with international practice.
All shipping lines, freight forwarders, exporters, importers, and logistics operators are expected to comply with the following SPN requirements:
- Effective February 1, 2026, every cargo destined for Ghana, including transit cargoes, must have a valid Smart Port Note (SPN) issued and validated at the port of loading.
- Each Bill of Lading must carry a unique SPN Code.
- Cargo shipped without a valid SPN shall not be cleared at Ghanaian ports until all applicable fines and penalties for non-compliance are paid and proper validation is completed.
- Inter-Ocean Maritime & Logistics Institute (IOMLI) and its technical partner Antaser Afrique BV, have exclusive rights for the issuance and validation of SPN Codes through www.antaserafrique.com
For further information and guidance on obtaining the required SPN certification, kindly contact Antaser Afrique BV or IOMLI via info@antaserafrique.com, ectn@antaserafrique.com, data@iomli.com , or the Ghana Shippers Authority via info@shippers.org.gh.
