Prof. Gyampo Rallies Air Freight Sector to Confront Soaring Business Costs in Ghana

In a strategic move to address Ghana’s rising logistics expenses, Prof. Ransford Gyampo has initiated high-level discussions with key air freight stakeholders, spotlighting the sector’s crippling operational costs and their ripple effect on national trade competitiveness. By engaging industry leaders on policy reforms, infrastructure bottlenecks, and regulatory inefficiencies, Gyampo aims to foster a more cost-effective, investor-friendly freight environment. The dialogue reflects a growing consensus that if Ghana is to enhance its regional trade position, logistics costs—especially in air freight—must be urgently reevaluated and restructured.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Professor Ransford Gyampo, has taken a decisive step towards streamlining Ghana’s commercial shipping landscape and lowering costs of doing business. A high-level stakeholder engagement mission has been launched at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to engage stakeholders within the air freight industry.The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to build synergy across the shipping value chain thus sea, land, and air.

The air freight sector engagement featured strategic meetings with the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Aviance Ghana, Swissport Ghana, and freight forwarder associations operating at KIA. These interactions follow similar consultative visits by the GSA to stakeholders in the sea and land transport sectors.

At the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Prof. Gyampo and his team were warmly received by the Managing Director, Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare. She commended Prof. Gyampo on his recent appointment and reaffirmed GACL’s commitment to collaborating with GSA to foster operational efficiency at Ghana’s airports.

“We are always open to partnerships that promote smooth, transparent, and productive engagements across institutions. GACL remains committed to creating an enabling environment for all players in the aviation value chain,” Mrs. Opare stated.

Prof. Gyampo highlighted the importance of institutional synergy in driving down operational costs, referencing his previous engagements with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Meridian Port Services (MPS), Customs, and border authorities along the Aflao and Akanu-Noepe corridors.

“Our objective is to gather actionable insights from industry stakeholders and push for policies and practices that improve predictability and cost-efficiency in shipping operations. This is a shared responsibility,” he said.

He also cited the newly enacted GSA Act 2024 (Act 1122) as a legislative milestone that empowers the Authority to enforce operational standards through a forthcoming Legislative Instrument (LI), aimed at enhancing accountability and service delivery across the sector.

During his visit to Aviance Ghana, one of the leading ground handling and cargo service providers at KIA, Prof. Gyampo engaged in candid discussions with Managing Director Mr. Mark Kamis. The two executives explored opportunities for deeper collaboration to boost cargo throughput and improve service quality.

Mr. Kamis praised the GSA for its ongoing stakeholder engagement drive and assured the Authority of Aviance’s continued support.

“We are proud of our partnership with the GSA and committed to enhancing Ghana’s visibility as a global air cargo hub. This renewed dialogue is a timely step toward achieving our mutual goals” Kamis said.

Prof. Gyampo acknowledged Aviance’s contributions and reaffirmed the GSA’s commitment to ensuring a win-win relationship between shippers and service providers. “Ghana’s global competitiveness depends on how well we support both local and international logistics players,” he noted.

At Swissport Ghana, the narrative was one of challenges and cautious optimism. Managing Director Mr. Gerald Suckling detailed a series of setbacks affecting the company’s performance, including a drop in cargo volumes and a decline in perishable and non-perishable goods exports trends that have prompted some cargo airlines to suspend operations in Ghana.

“The slowdown in local production and persistent delays in goods clearance are taking a toll on our business. We are experiencing a downward trend in exports, despite being the most patronised handler in the past.” Suckling revealed.

Prof. Gyampo expressed concern over the issues raised and pledged the GSA’s support in tackling these bottlenecks through policy advocacy and collaborative reforms.

“We must protect investments like Swissport’s, which are vital to Ghana’s trade ecosystem. Only by creating a predictable and transparent environment can we attract and retain major logistics players.” he stressed.

Mrs. Monica Josiah, GSA’s Head of Operations, commended Swissport for its strong showing in the GSA’s recent Service Level Survey, underscoring the company’s resilience despite industry headwinds.

A separate meeting with executives of freight forwarding associations at KIA brought to light several systemic challenges impeding the flow of goods and inflating logistics costs, among the concerns was the frequent breakdown of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) a key digital platform in the cargo clearance process.

“System outages sometimes last over 24 hours, causing costly delays,” one freight forwarder reported. Others pointed to slow responses from regulatory agencies and inconsistent permit issuance timelines, which they claimed led to unofficial payments and extended clearance durations.

“There’s also the issue of weight discrepancies between declared and actual cargo, which prevents us from using the pre-clearance module in ICUMS,” another forwarder noted.

In response, Mrs. Josiah encouraged freight forwarders to submit documented complaints to the Shipper Support Unit at KIA, assuring them of timely investigations and redress mechanisms.

Prof. Gyampo reiterated the GSA’s stance on legal compliance and responsible conduct within the freight forwarding community.

“We are ready to fight for your interests, but you must also operate within the boundaries of the law. We will not shield wrongdoers. Compliance is non-negotiable,” he emphasised.

The air freight stakeholder engagement forms part of a broader national agenda to unlock Ghana’s trade potential by lowering logistics costs and improving ease of doing business. With legislative backing from the GSA Act 2024, Prof. Gyampo is charting a collaborative path to reform one that brings together state institutions, private operators, and freight forwarders under a shared vision of growth.

As the GSA prepares to roll out its Legislative Instrument, all eyes are on the Authority to drive reforms that will make Ghana a preferred gateway for cargo movement in West Africa.

Last Updated on May 6, 2025 by samboad