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The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has announced the postponement of the implementation of the Smart Port Note (SPN), which was originally scheduled to begin on February 1, 2026.
In a follow-up notice to its earlier announcement issued on December 23, 2025, the Authority explained that some outstanding issues had emerged and would require further clarification and engagement with key stakeholders before the system could be rolled out.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the GSA said the decision to defer the implementation was to allow for an additional round of stakeholder consultations to address the unresolved concerns. It added that a new date for the rollout would be announced in due course.
The Smart Port Note is intended to improve trade facilitation, enhance regulatory compliance, strengthen cargo monitoring, and boost the reliability of shipping and logistics data at Ghana’s ports.
The system is being implemented through an agreement between the GSA and Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute Limited and is expected to cover all shipments to and from Ghana, including transit cargo through the country’s seaports.
The agreement was reached after extensive consultations with key industry players, including the Ghana Union Traders Association, Association of Ghana Industries, Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers Association Ghana, and the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana.
The SPN, described as an advanced shipment information system, is being introduced under the Ghana Shippers Authority’s mandate as provided in L.I. 2190 to improve trade facilitation, cargo tracking, compliance enforcement, and access to reliable shipping and logistics data.
