Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has officially inaugurated its new ultra modern 10 storey office complex at the ridge enclave in the national capital, Accra. Christened ‘Ghana Shippers’ House’ The Authority is currently operating from the 16.5 million dollar new office complex after moving out of the Enterprise House building near the High Street where it had been a tenant for 30 years. The colourful inauguration was graced by the crème de la creme in the maritime industry including the Minister of Transport Mr. Fifi Kwetey.
The initial dream of GSA forbearers many years ago was to have a one stop shop known as the ‘Maritime House’ where all issues relating to the maritime industry especially concerning shippers could be addressed at one place and space to avoid unnecessary cost of moving to and fro, and also to save time, a dream that has finally seen the light of day under the leadership of Dr. Kofi Mbiah, its Chief Executive Officer.
At the inauguration ceremony, held at the new ultra-modern edifice last Friday, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Dr. Kofi Mbiah catalogued the toil and sacrifices the Authority had been through all these years to see the reality of having its own building.
“It’s been a hard, long and rough road to travel. If the building were a human being, it would have been still-born, for it would have stayed for too long in its mother’s womb”
Construction of the mega ultra-modern edifice began four years ago and was expected to be completed within 30 months. However, inadequate funds and challenges in the cash flow of the Authority delayed the project for quite some time.
Dr. Mbiah bemoaned the daunting role squatters played in the Authority’s attempt to secure land which was indentured to it on 30th March, 1992.
“At this present site where this edifice occupies was a bungalow and two outhouses situated in green and leafy surroundings reminiscent of the lifestyle of our colonial masters. The buildings had long been abandoned and squatters therefore made it their habitation and place of abode. All efforts to eject them failed. They reported our attempts at ejection to the government who requested the Authority to show human face and pay some compensation to squatters for resettlement.”
According to the Authority, the building is not only expected to serve as head office of GSA but also provide some other facilities that would facilitate trade and transport in the country and improve upon her economic growth prospects.
Dr. Mbiah in his address explained that, the occasion was not only to celebrate the achievement of moving into their own edifice but also to celebrate the spirit of the shipping community and also to laud them for their resilience.
“My address this afternoon provides us with a cause to celebrate and we will celebrate not this edifice but the Shippers Spirit, a spirit so hard to define yet so easy to recognise’’ he opined.
Chairman for the occasion, Mr. James Asare-Adjei, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), lauded the unprecedented achievements of the leadership of GSA and called on all in sundry to support the Authority. He opined that total support to the Authority was an inevitable advantage and a win for the Ghanaian economy. He further expressed that his association will continually make efforts to support the vision of GSA as it will inversely benefit AGI
“AGI in line with its commitments in advocating for policies that will advance the growth of Ghanaian industries has over the years collaborated with GSA in the realization of its vision and therefore believes the economy of Ghana will be the overall winners when the Authority is given the needed support by all, to discharge its duties effectively” he said.
Mr. Fifi Kwetey, Minister of Transport who represented President John Dramani Mahama at the inauguration ceremony also lauded the enviable feat the Authority had chalked for itself. He reiterated the need for other government agencies to emulate efforts that GSA made to secure funds on its own balance sheet to execute such a project.
He reminded the Authority of the need to adopt a very solid and sustainable means of maintaining the structure so that it will stand the test of time and remain plush and durable. The minister also praised the contractors who executed the project, Berock Ventures Limited, a Ghanaian local building construction firm for exhibiting a high sense of professionalism. The minister encouraged local business men and women to take advantage of such opportunities by exhibiting a high level of professionalism and dedication in the line of duty in order to earn the trust of would-be clients.
Goodwill messages poured from the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other industry players, all of who also voiced their displeasure at the recently introduced Terminal Handling Charges by Shipping Lines and their agents operating in the country.
The Ghana Shippers’ House will host a ship brokerage Hall, the first of its kind in West Africa, creating an environment for a freight market in West Africa, a knowledge and information centre with state of the art technology, a maritime arbitration centre with all the necessary paraphernalia needed for a modern day arbitration centre, a conference centre and committee rooms. There is also a dedicated hall for receiving and addressing shipper complaints and providing them with information on all matters relating to their business endeavours. The media has not been left out as the Authority has designated a dedicated space solely for the purpose of media activities.
