The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has been awarded the prestigious International Quality Crown Award, in the Gold category, by the Business Initiative Directions (B.I.D) currently the most important private organization in the world presenting a Quality Award.
GSA was also given a certificate “Quality Culture 100 and Commitment,” which affirms the Authority's commitment to quality, to facilitate change in culture and behaviour, and provide the grounds for continuous improvement, and to reduce costs of the organization’s processes.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on return from the London award ceremony, Dr Kofi Mbiah, GSA Chief Executive Officer, said GSA's contribution to the development of the Shipping and Logistics Industry in Ghana, formed the fundamental basis for the award.
He noted that GSA had demonstrated commitment to quality in the generation of creative solutions to the key concerns of shippers; including efficient infrastructure, shipment information, costs charges as well as service quality.
Dr. Mbiah, noted that; "the virtues and ideals that have been espoused by B.I.D’s International Quality Crown Awards are those that the GSA is committed to".
The GSA Chief Executive Officer also indicated that the award would showcase the Authority as one that believed in and is committed to innovation, creativity, excellence in leadership to developing the new product, the new software for the benefit of the importer and exporter and thereby make that importer and exporter competitive in the global market arena.
The GSA was among other leading companies and organizations from 48 countries around the world that were recognized for their commitment quality, leadership, technology, innovation and creativity.
Dr Mbiah noted that the award put the GSA among the historic group of B.I.D. Quality Award Winners around the world, which provided evidence of the international recognition of the work of the GSA, and also provided the impetus to pursue the quality culture in its operations.
He said the Authority's achievements had been rooted in a certain drive for the provision of quality service to the shipper in Ghana.
However, to provide further impetus to the discharge of its core mandate of promoting and protecting the interests of shippers in Ghana, the Authority made a further commitment to publicize this quality culture with employees and clients within the framework of the QC100 Total Quality Management Model.
Dr Mbiah said it also strengthened the Authority’s leadership role among sister shipper organizations within the West and Central Africa Region.
He said GSA would continue to increase the employment of technology for the provision of dashboard solutions for shippers.
Dr Mbiah also indicated that the Shipper Complaint and Support Units, which were currently established in four locations/entry points, would be replicated at all border posts in Ghana in collaboration with the West Africa Trade Hub (WATH).
The GSA Chief Executive Officer said the Authority was constructing a “House for Maritime Excellence" – a ten storey building to serve as a one stop-shop facility for all maritime trade and transport transactions, including ship brokerage services, freight market and cargo insurance services.
Dr. Mbiah also emphasized on the provision of advanced shipment information to shippers to facilitate pre-clearance processing of documentation to among others curtail the payment of demurrage and rent charges and ultimately contribute to the decongestion of Ghana's ports.
He commended the Chairman and Board of Directors of the GSA as well as the Management and Staff, whose significant contribution had led to the achievement and recognition by the international community.