The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has been adjudged as Best Agency in Trade Facilitation in Africa for 2010. The award was received at the 2011 African Maritime and Energy (AME) Awards Nite on March 10, 2011 at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.

The Award which was conferred on the Authority by the Shipping and Oil Digest was in recognition of the Authority’s contribution to the maritime industry as well as its role in facilitating international trade.

The Shipping and Oil Digest is a specialized monthly news journal published by Balm of Gilead Communications, a subsidiary of West Coast Business Support Services (operating in Ghana and Nigeria). It seeks to provide information for players involved in shipping, ports, oil and gas related industries in Africa.

The Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Nana Agyekum Gyamerah who received the Award on behalf of the Authority said the award would spur the Management and staff of the organisation on to deliver more on their core mandate of protecting and promoting the interests of the Ghanaian shipper.

Nana Gyamerah opined that the Authority might have been nominated for the Award because of the numerous activities it embarked on in 2010. Some of activities according to him include the establishment of the Takoradi Logistics Platform, activities of the Transit Shipper Committee, reaching out to shippers across the country through the Shipper Committees, prompt resolution of shipment problems, education programmes and the commencement of work on the Authority’s multi-purpose office complex in Accra, among others.

The Special Guest of Honour at the event, Alhaji Asuma Banda who is President of the Ship owners and Agents Association of Ghana and a member of the Council of State, congratulated the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and commended their effort at making shipping easier and convenient for players in the industry.

The Awards ceremony which climaxed the closing of a two day Pan African round table conference on shipping and oil saw other organizations and individuals also take home some awards.