Emelia Assiakwa

Emelia Assiakwa serves as a board member of the Ghana Shippers Authority, the statutory body established to protect and promote the interests of Ghanaian shippers in international trade. The Ghana Shippers Authority plays a critical role in the country's trade infrastructure, operating at the intersection of maritime transport, international freight, and the regulatory oversight of shipping services that connect Ghana to global markets.

Ghana's economy is heavily trade-dependent, with imports and exports flowing through Tema Port, the country's primary deep-water commercial port, and Takoradi Port, its secondary harbour. The Ghana Shippers Authority is responsible for ensuring that the terms on which Ghanaian cargo owners use shipping services are fair, transparent, and in line with international standards, mediating between the interests of cargo owners and shipping lines, freight forwarders, and port operators. This regulatory and advocacy function has direct implications for the competitiveness of Ghanaian exporters and the cost of imported goods across the economy.

Assiakwa's board role at the Ghana Shippers Authority places her within the governance of an institution that shapes how Ghana engages with the global trading system. Board directors at the authority contribute to strategic oversight of its regulatory functions, public advocacy work, and the development of policies that improve the efficiency and fairness of Ghana's trade and shipping environment. In a world where global supply chain disruptions have highlighted the vulnerability of trade-dependent economies, the governance of trade facilitation bodies like the Ghana Shippers Authority has taken on renewed significance.

Her recognition in the 2026 Avance Media Top 100 Women Board Directors ranking confirms her standing among Ghana's most significant women in public sector governance. The ranking examined board compositions across 100 of the country's leading institutions, identifying her as part of the group of women whose governance contributions are shaping the direction of Ghana's most consequential public and private sector organisations.

Her work at the Ghana Shippers Authority connects her to the practical mechanics of international trade on which much of Ghana's economic activity depends.