Mr. Stephen Adjokatcher, President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), has been elected Vice President of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the global body for freight forwarders.
Mr. Adjokatcher was elected to the position during the FIATA World Congress 2025 held at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam, from October 6 to 10.
His election marks a significant milestone not only for Ghana but also for the African freight forwarding community, as he brings decades of experience and leadership to the global logistics platform.
The 2025 FIATA World Congress, under the theme “Green and Resilient Logistics”, brought together more than 1000 leaders in the logistics and transport sectors from 100 countries across the world.
The FIATA World Congress (FWC) is a platform used to discuss industry challenges and trends, hear perspectives from top industry leaders and their solutions, and exchange and network with supply chain actors from different parts of the logistics industry from all around the world.
Mr. Adjokatcher emerged victorious in a stiff competition with 13 other candidates from countries including India, Italy, Columbia, Vietnam, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Iran, Chinese Taipei and Egypt.
In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to the newly elected president, Thomas Sim from Singapore, the Director-General of FIATA, Mr. Stephane Graber, and the association members for the confidence reposed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the pressing challenges confronting the global logistics and transport sector.
“The world is experiencing rapid changes in supply chain dynamics, digitalisation, and sustainability expectations. As Vice President, I am dedicated to collaborating with stakeholders worldwide to develop practical, future-orientated solutions,” he stated.
He added that they must ensure that the freight forwarding industry stays resilient, efficient, and inclusive amid global disruptions.
He noted that he had already initiated measures aimed at connecting the Togolese Association, Union Professionnel Des Agrés en Douane du Togo (UPRAD TOGO), with FIATA, which has allowed the Togolese freight forwarders to access the benefits of the global organisation.
Mr. Adjokatcher, who is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Santa Shipping Company, promised to perform his duties diligently and to the best of his ability.
He thanked his colleagues from GIFF for their support, which paved the way for his election.
Mr. Adjokatcher, under his leadership at GIFF, was instrumental in driving regulatory reforms, capacity building, and the digital transformation of freight forwarding in Ghana, while his international outlook and deep understanding of regional logistics challenges position him as a strong advocate for emerging economies within the global freight forwarding community.