Gov't Reviews Shipping Authority Bill

Mr Felix Owusu-Agyapong, Minister of Transport and Communications, said the government had reviewed the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Authority Bills to create a conducive atmosphere for the industry to thrive.

The Bills, he said, would soon be placed before Cabinet and then Parliament for approval.

He said the Ministry was collaborating with stakeholders in the industry to raise productivity and improve upon its service delivery and efficiency.Mr Owusu-Agyapong urged the participants at the workshop to critically examine their operations and recommend pragmatic solutions that would reduce transport costs for the shipper and increase the business and operational performance of suppliers of services.

The National Shippers' day, was instituted by the Shippers' Council in 1997, to create a platform for operators in the sector, including shippers, shipping lines, port authority and clearing and forwarding agents, to highlight their problems and exchange ideas to resolve them.

They also draw attention to their contribution to national development.

The bi-annual event was not marked in 1999. Instead, Ghana hosted the first African Shippers' Day.The Council, set up in 1974, provides services such as warehousing facilities and logistics, negotiation of port tariff and information to its 23,000 registered companies.

It also addresses problems of cargo insurance claims, illegal charges and levies and shipment problems.