The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) was presented with a Certificate of Merit on International Customs Day in Accra. This was in recognition of the exceptional services provided and commitment to promoting and safeguarding the interests of shippers and stakeholders in the shipping and logistics industry.
The acknowledgement also signifies the critical roles played by the GSA, contributing to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) achieving its revenue target for the year ending 2023. The presentation took place on Friday, 26th January 2024, by the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Alhaji Iddrisu Iddisah Seidu.
The event, themed “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose,” brought together industry players to review their performance and ways to improve the operations of the Customs Division of the GRA.
Chairing the event, Mr. Kwesi Baffour Okyere Sarpong, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GSA, highlighted the importance of partnerships between key state agencies and the private sector for the development of the Shipping Sector. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening existing partnerships between the GSA and the Customs Division of the GRA to serve the interests of shippers.
“The collaborative approach signalled by Customs is essential in cultivating an environment that not only supports but enhances the efficiency, security, and evolving trend of domestic and international trade. For us at the GSA, any endeavours that facilitate, enable, or enhance the business of the private sector, particularly importers, exporters, and transiters whom we call shippers, is very heartwarming,” he noted.
In a speech read on behalf of the World Customs Organization’s Secretary-General, Mr. Ian Saunders, the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Alhaji Iddrisu Iddisah Seidu, stated that the WCO intends to establish new partnerships with financial and environmental-based institutions, as well as academia, with the aim of aligning all partnerships with the overarching focus on the value of customs.
The event featured presentations on relevant topics by the Head of Marketing and Public Affairs at the Tema Port, Mrs. Abena Serwaa Opoku-Fosu, as well as the Head of Policy and Programmes, Mr. Divine Agbeko, and Former Deputy Commissioner of Operations of the Customs Division of the GRA, Mr. Baffour Yaw Asare.
