Accra: A coalition of trade and logistics stakeholders has strongly rejected moves to reintroduce the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note and Shipped Pre-Notification system, commonly known as ECTN/SPN, describing the initiative as an unjustified cost burden on traders.
According to Ghana Web, the Coalition of Concerned Importers and Exporters, Traders and Freight Forwarders issued a press release dated April 4, 2026, expressing their opposition to the renewed efforts by the Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute and the Ghana Shippers' Authority to implement the ECTN/SPN. The coalition referred to the initiative as a "purported pilot exercise" and firmly opposed it, arguing that the proponents have failed to demonstrate any clear benefits to the trading community.
The coalition's statement emphasized that proponents have yet to provide justification or evidence for the project, nor have they shown how the initiative will deliver its intended outcomes. The group accused the Ghana Shippers' Authority and Inter-Ocean Maritime Logistics Institute of timing their push to coincide with a period when the trade community is focused on addressing issues with the implementation of Publican AI in customs processing.
The coalition recalled that the Ghana Shippers' Authority had previously withdrawn the ECTN/SPN due to the inability to justify its benefits to stakeholders. The statement warned that reintroducing the project without addressing its fundamental deficiencies would breach public trust. The coalition urged the Ghana Shippers' Authority to protect shippers' interests and withdraw all activities related to the ECTN/SPN implementation. They warned that if their concerns were ignored, they would explore all lawful avenues to protect their members and the wider trading community.