The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to remove representatives of the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) from the boards of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
In a petition dated September 15, 2026, the IEAG called for the SOAAG representation to be replaced with broader participation from Ghanaian importers, exporters and other credible trade associations whose members are directly affected by decisions within the maritime and port sectors.
The association said its request was driven by concerns over what it described as repeated disagreements between shipping interests and state regulatory institutions, particularly over port charges and regulatory directives.
The petition specifically cited the ongoing controversy over the Container Administrative Charge (CAC), saying importers and exporters continued to face charges of about US$165 per container despite a regulatory directive setting a ceiling of GH¢720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).
An Accra High Court in July dismissed an application by SOAAG and some shipping agents seeking to halt implementation of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s directive capping the charge at GH¢720 per TEU. The ruling left the directive operational and the GSA subsequently directed shipping lines and agents to comply.
IEAG argued that the dispute raised broader questions about regulatory authority, institutional accountability and the representation of private-sector interests on strategic public boards.
The association said it respected the contribution of shipowners and shipping agents to Ghana’s maritime economy but maintained that membership of state boards carried an obligation to respect the authority of state institutions, regulatory decisions and the broader national interest.
It also referred to a 2016 dispute over Terminal Handling Charges, when shipping lines introduced charges at Ghana’s ports that generated opposition from importers, exporters and other industry stakeholders.
According to the petition, the then Ministry of Transport directed that the charges should not be imposed as a local charge at Ghana’s ports, but some shipping interests continued to impose them and challenged the government’s authority.
IEAG said the matter eventually attracted the intervention of then-President Mahama, who directed the shipping lines to comply with the government’s position.
The association argued that the historical dispute, together with the current CAC controversy, pointed to what it described as a recurring pattern of confrontation between shipping interests and regulatory institutions.
IEAG further expressed concern about the financial burden of port-related charges on importers and exporters, saying additional shipping costs were ultimately passed on to businesses and, in some cases, consumers.
It called for all charges imposed within Ghana’s maritime ecosystem to be transparent, proportionate, properly justified and linked to an identifiable service or legitimate regulatory function.
The association also raised concerns about the implementation of the Government’s 24-hour economy policy at the ports, saying the success of extended port operations would require coordinated services from shipping lines, terminal operators, government agencies and other private-sector actors.
It said shipping lines and other private operators should provide corresponding services, including during weekends and other extended operational periods, to prevent importers and exporters from incurring avoidable demurrage and detention charges.
IEAG therefore proposed broader private-sector representation on the GMA and GPHA boards, arguing that importers and exporters were critical participants in the maritime and international trade ecosystem and were directly affected by many of the charges and policies within the sector.
The association said their participation could provide greater balance in the governance of the two institutions and contribute practical knowledge to policy formulation and regulatory oversight.
In its specific requests to President Mahama, the IEAG called for the removal of SOAAG representatives from the GMA and GPHA boards and a review of the appointment of Mr Adam Imoru Ayarna, identified in the petition as SOAAG’s representative of Ghanaian registered shipowners.
It also asked the President to replace the representation with broader private-sector participation, including credible importer, exporter and trading associations.
The association further called for a comprehensive review of the Container Administrative Charge and other shipping-related charges, with particular attention to legality, transparency, value for money, proportionality and the services provided in return.
It urged the government to ensure that lawful directives issued by competent state institutions were respected while preserving the right of affected parties to seek judicial or administrative redress through appropriate channels.
IEAG also called for a review of shipping-line operations and service schedules within the framework of the 24-hour economy to ensure that private operators did not undermine extended port operations or expose importers and exporters to avoidable charges.
The association finally proposed a stronger maritime stakeholder engagement framework bringing together government, regulators, shipping lines, terminal operators, importers, exporters, freight forwarders and other industry stakeholders.
IEAG said its petition was ultimately about what it described as good governance, institutional authority, accountability and balanced stakeholder representation in Ghana’s maritime sector.
The association said it remained committed to working with government and other stakeholders to build a transparent, efficient and competitive maritime sector capable of supporting trade, investment, employment and economic growth.
