The move has become necessary as the operations of consolidators has become key in the shipping and logistics sector offering cost efficient services to importers.

A consolidator is a company specialising in combining cargo shipments from multiple shippers into full container loads.

Shippers have over the years benefitted from the on-time deliveries, fulfilment of fast orders, lower inventory carrying cost, lessened disruption risk and much more services offered by consolidators.  

In order to address several complaints received in the past few months over the charges and services of some consolidators, the GSA on Tuesday met with cargo consolidators and de-consolidators to understand their challenges in order to fashion some working standards.

It was attended by more than 100 consolidators including Conship, Mass Logistics, Baj Freight, Dock to Door, Sabo Logistics, I & C shipping, AllShip Logistics and Stella Logistics who had the opportunity to express concerns regarding calculation of Cubic Meter (CBM) among other matters.

A team from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority as well as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, MsBenonita Bismarck, said the authority was aware of some of the challenges faced by consolidators including arbitrary charges by shipping lines, frequent increase in charges at the port and unclaimed cargo in warehouses.

“As critical stakeholders, we appreciate that your effective service delivery to shippers is contingent on the resolution of some of these mentioned problems,” she said.

Ms Bismarck noted that the GSA was resolute in its quest to address some of the challenges to ease the burden on shippers and expressed the hope that the meeting would signal the start of a renewed relationship between the GSA and consolidators and amicable resolution to challenges.