The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has welcomed efforts by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) to regulate and limit Container Administrative Charges at the country’s ports, describing the move as a major step toward reducing the cost of trade.
In a statement dated April 21, the association said the new directive to cap the charges addresses years of concern over what it calls excessive and unclear fees imposed by international shipping lines and their local agents.
According to the IEAG, such charges—often passed on to importers and exporters as local handling costs—have significantly increased the cost of doing business in Ghana and weakened the country’s competitiveness in regional trade.
The association also reacted to opposition from some shipping industry workers, urging that regulatory reforms aimed at protecting traders and the wider economy should not be resisted.
It explained that shipping companies already generate revenue through ocean freight, demurrage, and detention charges, which cover vessel operations, fuel, and capital expenses, while additional earnings are often repatriated to foreign headquarters.
IEAG further argued that many port-related costs, including terminal handling, berth fees, pilotage, towage, and port dues, are already embedded in freight charges paid by shippers. As a result, the separate Container Administrative Charge represents what it described as a duplication of costs.
The association noted that the charge was first introduced in the late 1980s when port infrastructure limitations required additional vessel support services. However, it said improvements in Ghana’s port facilities have made the charge outdated.
Industry data cited by the group suggests traders paid about GH₵1.69 billion in these charges in 2024 alone, a burden the IEAG says has contributed to higher import prices and inflationary pressure on consumers.
The GSA’s decision to cap the charge at GH₵550 per Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit, effective May 1, 2026, was therefore described by the association as a fair and timely intervention to improve transparency, reduce costs, and strengthen efficiency in Ghana’s maritime trade sector.
