The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has proudly marked 11 years of steadfast trade advocacy. Under the theme “11 Years of Trade Advocacy: Digital Transformation for a Competitive Future,” the anniversary celebrations turned into a momentous milestone with the unveiling of the Association’s new corporate website.
A Legacy of Impact
Founded in 2014, IEAG emerged from a need for collective representation amid a challenging trade environment marked by erratic policies, excessive port charges, and lack of institutional support. Over the past decade, the Association’s strategic interventions have:
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Successfully challenged punitive Temporary Handling Charges
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Influenced revisions to the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) policy
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Championed the passage of the Ghana Shippers Authority Act (Act 1122), empowering better regulation and protection for local businesses
Keynote Address: A Voice with Purpose
Delivering the keynote speech, the CEO of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Professor Ransford Gyampo, lauded IEAG as a “formidable champion” of Ghana’s trade sector. He notably praised the Executive Secretary, Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit, as “noisy, sometimes disruptive—but always for a good cause.” Reflecting on IEAG’s early activism, he recounted the one-man protest at Tema Port that exposed obstacles in spare parts trade and sparked meaningful policy dialogue.
Prof. Gyampo emphasized unity in advocacy, calling on IEAG and other trade bodies to collaborate in resisting excessive port costs and ensuring fair practices across Ghana’s export landscape
Digital Leap Forward
The event also heralded a digital transformation with the launch of IEAG’s new website—now a transparent and accessible hub for trade stakeholders. Prof. Gyampo described the platform as “timely and symbolic,” ushering in a new era of policy engagement, advocacy, and member service
Support Across the Trade Ecosystem
Goodwill messages poured in from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Free Zones Authority, Customs Division, GEPA, FAGE, EXIM Bank, GIPC, ICUMS, and other key bodies—highlighting IEAG’s respected position in Ghana’s economic landscape.
A Digital Home for a Vision
Mr. Awingobit, in his welcome address, framed the website as “a home for importers, exporters, policymakers, and the public—a space for truth, transparency, and trade justice”
As the Association embarks on its second decade, it stands ready to remain a vocal force for equitable trade and progress in Ghana.
