PRIVACY NOTICE FROM THE GHANA SHIPPERS’ AUTHORITY.

1.0 WHO IS GHANA SHIPPERS’ AUTHORITY (GSA)?

Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) is a government organization established in 1974 by NRCD 254 to promote and protect the interest of shippers in Ghana. Located at No. 12 Cruickshank Rd, Ambassadorial Enclave, West Ridge, Accra, GSA’s operations are zoned into Northern, Mid, Western and Eastern with offices in Tamale, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tema respectively managing the four zones.

GSA has Shipper Complaints and Support Units (SCSU) at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA in Accra, the Aflao Border at Denu in the Volta region, the Paga Border at Paga in the Upper-East region, the Akanu-Noepe Border at Akanu in the Volta region, the Elubo Border at Elubo in the Western region, and TACOTEL at Takoradi in the Western region.

The SCSU provides real time assistance to shippers whose operations take them through these land ports across the country.

 

2.0 WHY IS THE GSA PROVIDING THIS NOTICE?

GSA is by this notice informing the public about how it uses personal data it collects from shippers as well as other stakeholders of the shipping, logistics, and maritime industry who access its services, and in the course of doing so, provide their personal or business information.

 

3.0 WHAT DATA DOES GSA COLLECT OR PROCESS?

GSA may collect or process personal and/or business data to provide service (s) required by a shipper or stakeholder.  Such data may include personal identification information (Name, email address, phone number, type of business, business address etc.).

 

4.0 HOW DOES GSA COLLECT PERSONAL DATA?

GSA collects data when a person:

  • calls at any of the GSA offices to make enquiries, attend a meeting, or pursue any other business and is requested to fill any form.
  • calls by phone to register with the GSA as a shipper or shipping service provider.
  • fills a form online on the GSA website and other digital platforms.
  • voluntarily requests for information from GSA and personal details are collected.
  • signs on to use GSA’s ShippersApp.
  • accesses any of GSA’s online sites and data is picked by cookies.

GSA may also receive personal and / or business data indirectly from other sources (e.g.; data controllers on whose behalf personal data is processed, intermediaries, partners or parties with shipping and logistics interests).

 

5.0 WHAT IS THE LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING PERSONAL DATA

GSA processes personal data to provide the services it is mandated by law (NRCD 254, 1974 & Ghana Shippers’ Authority Regulations, 2012 (L.I 2190)) to provide.

It may also process such data upon the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction for public interest considerations.

 

6.0 HOW DOES GSA USE  PERSONAL DATA?

GSA may use personal data to:

  • process requests made by the owner of the data.
  • provide services requested by the owner of the data.
  • maintain a relationship with the owner of the data.
  • fulfill legal obligations in the public interest.
  • post information on the shipping, logistics, and maritime industry for the owner of the data’s benefit.

 

7.0 HOW DOES GSA STORE PERSONAL DATA?

GSA stores personal data manually and electronically, and internally and externally, including cloud services. GSA takes reasonable measures to store your data securely to prevent loss, misuse, or unauthorized access.

Depending on the purpose for collecting the data, GSA will keep the data up to ten (10) years, unless otherwise required by law.

 

8.0 SHARING / DISSEMINATING DATA

  1. GSA neither sells nor discloses data on its stakeholders or interested parties. Such data may however be shared with an approved 3rd Party data processors, where required by law or where required to enable GSA to provide better services to the owner of the data. Processing of data by a 3rd Party data processor will be upon the instructions of GSA and shall be based on the terms of this Privacy Notice.
  2. Subject to the consent of the owner, GSA may share data among stakeholders and interested parties in the interest of the business growth and development. Consent for the sharing of data in this manner may be expressly withdrawn by the owner of the data at any time to stop.

 

9.0 WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OBJECTS TO THEIR DATA BEING SHARED?

Where one objects to the processing of their data for the purpose of GSA pursuing its mandate to protect and promote the interest of the shipper, the GSA may not be able to provide services that may be requested by such a person.

 

10.0 PERSONAL CONSENT

  1. You hereby give your consent that, GSA may share your data in accordance with section 8 (ii) of this policy unless you expressly withdraw your consent.
  2. You agree that GSA may use your personal data for any of its legally mandated obligations and activities, except where such consent is expressly withdrawn by your good self.
  3. You may withdraw your consent and opt out of any or all the activities of GSA at any time.

 

11.0 RIGHTS OF THE PERSONAL OWNER OF DATA?

  • Access
 You have the right to request a copy of the data GSA holds on you.
  • Rectification
 You have the right to request GSA to correct your data that you believe is inaccurate; or to complete your data that you believe is incomplete.
  • Objection
 You have the right to object to GSA processing your data.
  • Notification of   security breaches

 

 

 

  • Be Informed

  • Deletion

 

 

 

You have the right to be notified if there are reasonable grounds for GSA to believe that your data has been accessed by an unauthorized person.

 

You have the right to know when your personal data shall be, is being, or has been processed.

 

You are allowed to ask for your data to be deleted if:

  • Your data is no longer necessary.
  • You withdraw your consent for your data to be processed.
  • Your data is unlawfully processed.
  • If you object to the processing of your data, and / or GSA has no reason to continue processing your data.
  • If your deletion is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation under the laws of Ghana.
  1. To exercise any of your rights, please contact the Data Protection Supervisor via any of the contact details provided in section 16.0 below.
  2. To ensure that it does not disclose your personal data to unauthorized persons, GSA may ask for information to confirm your identity when you seek to access data .
  3. GSA may also request for additional information to facilitate any request you may have, to which a response will be provided within 2 and 14 working days, depending on the complexity or otherwise of the request.

 

12.0 WHAT ARE COOKIES?

Cookies are text files placed on your computer to collect standard internet log information and visitor behaviour information.  GSA may collect information automatically through cookies.

 

13.0 HOW DOES GSA USE COOKIES?

GSA uses cookies to improve the services and information accessible on its website, and by that enhance the overall experience of visitors to the website.

 

14.0 HOW TO MANAGE COOKIES

To prevent Cookies from functioning effectively (collecting your data), set your browser to not accept cookies. Doing so may however, disable some of the features on GSA’s website and they may consequently not function effectively.

 

15.0 CHANGES TO THE PRIVACY NOTICE

GSA reserves the right to review and modify this Privacy Notice periodically in accordance with the prevailing applicable law.

In such a case, GSA will update and share the updated version on its website and other relevant information dissemination platforms.

 

16.0 CONTACT THE GSA

Any enquiries on this Privacy Notice or any aspect of the GSA’s data protection practice may be directed to GSA’s Data Protection Supervisor through any of the following means:

  1. Email: gsa.dps@org.gh
  2. Physical Location: Head Office: 7TH Floor, Ghana Shippers House, No. 12 Cruickshank Street, Ambassadorial Enclave, West Ridge, Accra.
  3. Write to us: P.O. Box GP3121, Accra.