A coalition of exporters, importers and traders has raised objections to the planned rollout of the Smart Port Note (SPN), warning that the policy could impose an annual financial burden of up to €382.8 million on Ghanaian households if implemented without proper justification.
In a press statement dated 15th January 2026, the Coalition of Concerned Exporters, Importers and Traders criticised the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) for announcing the implementation of the SPN without providing what it described as a clear, evidence-based rationale or adequate stakeholder consultation.
The GSA, through a public notice issued on December, 23, 2025, announced that the SPN would take effect from 1st February 2026.
Since then, the coalition says concerns have intensified across the trading community over the potential impact of the policy on Ghana’s trade architecture, the cost of doing business, commodity prices and broader national development.
According to the coalition’s conservative estimates, the SPN is projected to cost Ghanaian shippers—and by extension consumers—between €187.2 million and €382.8 million each year.
The analysis is based on Ghana’s 2024 container traffic of 1,701,246 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and the fee structure proposed during an earlier attempt to roll out the policy.
The coalition noted that the estimates cover only full container load (FCL) traffic and exclude other categories of cargo, suggesting the overall economic impact could be significantly higher.
The group further argued that the projected costs amount to a direct transfer of wealth to the service provider, Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute, and its Belgium-based technical partner, Antaser Afrique.
The coalition expressed concern that, despite repeated questions from industry stakeholders, the GSA has made no meaningful effort to clarify the structure, scope, operational framework or intended outcomes of the SPN.
It said this lack of transparency is particularly troubling given that even organisations publicly perceived as supporting the policy have offered conflicting explanations of how it is expected to function.
“This situation clearly points to the absence of adequate stakeholder consultation and sensitisation, which is the most basic requirement of sound policy formulation,” the coalition stated, adding that the GSA’s handling of the process reflects poorly on its mandate to protect the interests of Ghanaian shippers.
The coalition also disclosed that several industry bodies cited by the GSA as having been consulted—including the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana (ACHAG)—have since formally distanced themselves from the policy.
In addition, the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG), which represents shipping lines expected to play a central role in implementation, has reportedly indicated that it was not consulted.
According to the coalition, the GSA’s continued reluctance to publicly engage on the SPN has deepened perceptions that the policy lacks a coherent justification.
It warned that a measure with such wide-ranging implications for trade facilitation, competitiveness and consumer prices should not be imposed through administrative directive without transparent explanation, rigorous impact assessment and broad stakeholder support.
The coalition has formally requested that the GSA produce a comprehensive position paper outlining the policy’s rationale, implementation model, fee structure and legal basis, as well as how it aligns with Ghana’s existing trade facilitation systems.
In the absence of a clear problem statement, cost-benefit analysis or demonstration of added value, the coalition described the SPN as potentially duplicative and counterproductive.
It cautioned that rather than facilitating trade, the policy risks introducing additional bureaucracy, increasing transaction costs and undermining Ghana’s commitments under regional and international trade frameworks.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s convener, Michael Obiri-Adjei, concludes by calling for the immediate suspension of the SPN rollout until the identified policy and implementation gaps are addressed through transparent, data-driven justification and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
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