Importers and Exporters Association Distances Itself from Coalition Statement on Smart Port Note
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has formally dissociated itself from a recent statement issued by a group calling itself the “Coalition of Exporters, Importers and Traders” concerning the proposed Smart Port Note (SPN).
In a statement released on Sunday, January 18, 2026, IEAG clarified that it “is not part of this coalition and did not associate itself with the said statement or its conclusions,” particularly regarding cost projections and claims attributed to the SPN.
While acknowledging that some members of the trading community have expressed legitimate concerns about the initiative, IEAG highlighted “significant progress” achieved through structured stakeholder engagements.
The association participated in two high-level meetings last year convened by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), in collaboration with the Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute (IOMLI) and Antaser Afrique BV.
These sessions involved key stakeholders, including the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Traders Advocacy Group (TAG), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana (ACHAG), and the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana (CUBAG).
The meetings were chaired by GSA Chief Executive Officer Professor Ransford Gyampo, with senior management from IOMLI and Antaser Afrique BV in attendance.
Stakeholders were repeatedly assured that the Smart Port Note would be implemented “at no cost to importers” and would not impose any additional financial burden on the trading community.
IEAG’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit, raised similar concerns during the engagements about potential costs, duplication of existing systems, and operational clarity. However, the assurances were reaffirmed that the SPN “would not impose any direct financial burden on importers but that of exporting countries.”
Mr. Awingobit advocated for “continuous, inclusive stakeholder engagement until a collective and mutually acceptable position is reached on the SPN framework.”
Describing the coalition’s statement as “deeply concerning,” IEAG said it was issued “without due process, broad-based consultation or alignment with outcomes of the stakeholder engagements already held.”
The association reiterated its “strong and unequivocal support for the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS),” describing it as “the backbone of Ghana’s port clearance and trade facilitation architecture.”
IEAG noted that ICUMS, operated by GH Link, has significantly enhanced revenue mobilisation, cargo tracking, risk management, and automation at the ports over the years.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the interests of Ghanaian traders and consumers, supporting initiatives that improve port efficiency and trade facilitation “provided such systems are implemented transparently, prudently and without imposing additional costs on the trading community.”
IEAG urged stakeholders to rely on verified information, exercise restraint in public commentary, and allow the engagement process “to fully mature in the interest of Ghana’s trade competitiveness and economic development.”
