Port transport unions, GSA clash over GH¢250 fee, axle load policy rollout
A disagreement has emerged between the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) and the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions (JAPTU) over the implementation of new regulatory measures linked to a regional axle load control policy.
The GSA, in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and JAPTU, is preparing to implement the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Supplementary Act on Axle Load Control.
The framework is expected to harmonise axle load management across West Africa, improve regulatory compliance and enhance efficiency along major transit corridors.
Authorities have said the policy will also reduce border delays and streamline the movement of goods across member states.
As part of the measures, the GSA explained that under Section 26 of Act 1122 (2024), all haulage drivers would be required to register annually at a fee of GH¢250.
Registered operators would receive certification authorising them to operate across ports and transit corridors within Ghana and the wider sub-region.
The authority maintained that the system would strengthen institutional support, improve monitoring and promote safer, more efficient transport operations.
Rejection
However, JAPTU has rejected the proposed charges and regulatory arrangements, insisting that no agreement has been reached between the parties.
Speaking at a press conference in Tema last Friday, National Chairman of JAPTU, Shamsu Babayaro, dismissed reports suggesting that transport unions had endorsed the proposals, describing such claims as false and misleading.
“We have not agreed to any proposal presented to us.
We were shocked to hear on television that we had accepted them,” he stated.
Alhaji Babayaro said the proposed framework included mandatory payments at weighbridges in addition to the GH¢250 annual registration fee, which he argued would impose an extra financial burden on already struggling drivers.
He noted that the association had already registered more than 11,000 drivers nationwide at no cost, issuing identification cards and maintaining a comprehensive database.
He said state institutions could access such information through appropriate legal and administrative processes instead of introducing new fees.
Engagement
He further criticised what he described as a lack of engagement from key government institutions, including the Ministry of Roads and Highways, revealing that several attempts by the union to meet the sector minister had not received any response.
Alhaji Babayaro also highlighted the harsh working conditions faced by truck drivers, citing poor road networks, security threats along transit routes and frequent vehicle breakdowns.
He stressed that many drivers risked their lives transporting goods to neighbouring countries despite these challenges, often with limited institutional support.
While acknowledging ongoing government efforts to reform the transport sector, the union leader called for broader stakeholder consultation and more inclusive policymaking.
He thus urged the GSA and relevant agencies to engage transport unions in meaningful dialogue before implementing the new measures, warning that imposing additional costs without consensus could negatively affect Ghana’s transport and logistics sector.
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