Operations at Ghana’s ports continue to face disruption as freight forwarders and clearing agents insist their strike action over the introduction of the Publican AI system remains fully in effect, contradicting reports that the industrial action had been suspended.
The strike, which began on Monday, April 13, 2026, has resulted in the suspension of services and the halt of duty payments by operators, significantly affecting port clearance activities.
The clarification follows earlier communication from the Ghana Shippers’ Authority suggesting that the Ghana Union of Traders Association had agreed to suspend planned escalation measures after high-level stakeholder engagement.
However, in a statement issued by the Joint Business Forum and signed by GUTA President Clement Boateng, the group dismissed those reports as misleading and urged the public to disregard them.
The Forum clarified that while it has agreed to halt any further escalation of its broader industrial action in response to an appeal from the CEO of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, this does not affect the ongoing strike by freight forwarders and clearing agents.
“The strike action which commenced on Monday, 13th April 2026, remains in full force,” the statement said. “Freight forwarders and clearing agents have ceased payment of duties and laid down their tools as earlier directed. Operations at the ports remain suspended.”
The Joint Business Forum, which includes the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, Association of Custom House Agents Ghana, Customs Brokers Association, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, Traders Advocacy Group Ghana, and GUTA, said its position followed a meeting with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority.
According to the group, the strike is driven by longstanding concerns within the port system, including unpredictable and high duty assessments, delays in cargo clearance, rising demurrage charges, and the absence of an effective dispute resolution mechanism for valuation disputes.
It stressed that these challenges have made the operating environment increasingly unsustainable for traders and logistics operators.
While reaffirming its openness to dialogue, the Forum confirmed it will participate in an emergency stakeholder meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026.
However, it maintained that withdrawal of services will continue until concrete resolutions are reached.
The introduction of the Publican AI system, designed to modernise and automate port processes, has sparked resistance among stakeholders who argue that its rollout has not adequately addressed operational concerns, despite government assurances that it will improve efficiency and transparency.
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