The Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transportation has paid a working visit to the Western Zonal Office of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) in Takoradi as part of its oversight responsibilities within the transport sector.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday, 6th May 2026, formed part of the Committee’s working tour of the Western Region during which members visited key transport sector institutions, including the Ghana Railway Company Limited, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Ghana Maritime Authority.
The delegation was led by the Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Isaac Adjei Mensah, Member of Parliament for Wassa East, and included the Vice Chairperson, Hon. Andrew Dari Chiwitey, as well as other members of the Committee.
The Committee was received by the Western Zonal Manager of GSA, Mrs. Agnes Asamoah Duku, who welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Zonal Office.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Isaac Adjei Mensah expressed appreciation for the warm reception extended to the Committee, and noted that, the visit formed part of its constitutional mandate to oversee the work of the State Agencies under their purview, which includes GSA.
Mrs. Asamoah Duku delivered a presentation on the operations, achievements and strategic importance of the Western Zone of GSA.
She explained that the Western Zone is one of the five operational Zones of GSA and the second with a port, the other being the Tema Port. She added that, the Zone had oversight responsibility for the Western, Western North and Central Regions with respect to all matters related to shipping across sea, road, air and rail. The Zone also serves as the custodian of GSA projects and landed assets within its defined area.
Mrs. Asamoah Duku’s highlighted the Zone’s role in advancing GSA’s mandate, which they do through regular sensitization and educational engagements for shippers, transit shippers and other stakeholders to improve compliance and reduce operational bottlenecks within the shipping and logistics chain. The interventions include systemized Complaint Resolution, Shipper Registration and Registration Renewal among others.
“These interventions have enhanced shippers’ understanding of trade regulations, improved their competitiveness and contributed to addressing operational bottlenecks within the transport and logistics sector,” she said.
She underscored that, the Zone operates three Shipper Complaints and Support Units (SCSU) at the Elubo Border Post, the Takoradi Integrated Terminal (TACOTEL) and the Atlantic Terminal Services Limited. The SCSUs provide real time support to importers and exporters while working closely with Border Agencies to address challenges such as delays, multiple checkpoints and axle-load weight issues.
With respect to infrastructure, Mrs. Asamoah Duku highlighted the impact ofthe Takoradi Shippers’ Centre which houses the Zonal office, the Takoradi Logistics Platform which currently has some warehouses for rental, the Elubo Freight Park for transit haulers, the Aketekyiwa Freight Park project which under construction and the 250-seater conference facility within the Shippers’ Centre which is accessible to shippers and the general public. .
On operational safety, Mrs. Asamoah Duku outlined the formation of a multi- stakeholder task force and the development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to manage incidents of broken-down transit trucks and accidents along the western corridor.
She indicated that the implementation of the SOP had strengthened coordination among stakeholders, and enabled quicker response to such incidents, and a reduction in e congestion and disruption along major transit routes.
In her concluding remarks, she appealed to the Committee to support GSA in its implementation of its governing law, Act 1122 (2024), noting that, their visible support in that regard would strengthen enforcement and improve regulatory effectiveness.
In commending the Western Zonal Office, Hon. Isaac Adjei Mensah acknowledged their innovative initiatives and effective operations. He also commended GSA for promoting gender balance within its workforce.
Hon. Ziedeng Bede, Member of Parliament for Lawra, lauded the Zone for proactively constituting the SOP task force, describing it as a practical response that had reduced congestion from broken-down trucks and demonstrated the value of decentralised problem solving. He also commended the Zone’s revenue mobilization efforts, particularly the use of GSA properties for rental purposes.
The Vice-Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Andrew Dari Chiwitey, assured the Zonal Team of the Committee’s readiness to support GSA in the enforcement of Act 1122 (2024) whenever the need arises.
A staff expressed appreciation to the Honourable Members of Parliament for the visit, the encouragement and the assurances; and reaffirmed GSA’s commitment to sustained engagement and collaboration with the Committee in the discharge of the constitutional mandate.
