Importers and trade associations have called for urgent reforms to speed up the transfer of containers from Tema Port’s Terminal 3 to inland container depots, warning that persistent delays are significantly increasing the cost of doing business.
The concerns dominated discussions at the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s (GSA) Second Quarter Bronze and Trade Associations’ Shipper Committee meeting held in Accra, where industry players highlighted the impact of prolonged cargo transfers on business operations.
According to a statement issued by the Authority, containers destined for Inland Container Depots, including the Golden Jubilee Terminal (GJT), often remain at MPS Terminal 3 for several weeks before being transferred, despite importers having completed all statutory clearance requirements.
The delays, stakeholders said, result in importers paying additional rent, demurrage and other storage-related charges, even though the setbacks are beyond their control.
Participants noted that the situation continues to disrupt supply chains, reduce operational efficiency and weaken the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses, calling for stronger coordination among agencies operating within the port logistics chain and the introduction of clear timelines for container transfers.
Despite the challenges, stakeholders commended the Ghana Shippers’ Authority for providing a platform that brings together regulators, service providers and industry players to discuss and resolve issues affecting international trade.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Professor Ransford Edward Gyampo, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to improving trade facilitation through practical reforms.
He announced that registration with the Authority would now remain valid for 12 months before renewal, a move aimed at providing greater convenience and enabling users to maximise the benefits of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and other trade facilitation initiatives.
Professor Gyampo also encouraged importers, exporters and other industry players who are yet to register with the Authority to do so in order to benefit from the protections and services provided under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122).
As part of efforts to improve efficiency at the ports, the Authority introduced the Ghana EasyPASS initiative, a digital platform designed to simplify regulatory compliance, reduce processing delays and enhance transparency in standards and trade procedures.
The meeting brought together shippers and trade associations with annual import and export volumes below one million dollars, alongside representatives from the aviation, maritime, logistics, standards and communications sectors.
