Unregulated shipping fees draining businesses – Freight Forwarders warn


 The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) has reaffirmed its commitment to pushing for stricter regulation of fees and charges imposed by shipping lines operating in Ghana. The group insists it will not relent until directives requiring parliamentary approval of such charges—first issued under President John Dramani Mahama—are fully enforced.

For years, GIFF has raised concerns over what it describes as arbitrary and excessive charges by shipping lines, particularly administrative fees quoted in U.S. dollars per container, even when multiple containers fall under a single bill of lading. According to the Institute, efforts by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to address these concerns have so far proven ineffective.

Speaking to Citi News on behalf of the GIFF President, former President, Edward Akrong emphasised their continued push for reforms.

“The President’s pronouncement is like law, even if unwritten. Once the President has spoken, we must act. Shipping lines fall under the Shippers Authority, which in turn is under the Ministry of Transport. The Shippers Authority is aware of the issue, and its Chief Executive has already made public comments about moving forward.

“We will engage the Minister of Transport. If necessary, the matter must go to Parliament; we’ve already appeared before the Trade Committee on these same issues. Now that the President has taken a stand, we have even more reason to act.”

Akrong also called on the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to decouple duty payments from the shipping line release process, citing the need to support the government’s 24-hour economy initiative and reduce avoidable demurrage charges, especially when shipping lines are closed over weekends.

“Right now, once you pay your duty, you still need to go to the shipping line for a release. That’s outdated. With modern technology, once the duty is paid, it should be visible in real time. There’s no need to involve the shipping line at that point.

“If I pay on Friday and can’t get a release until Monday because the shipping line doesn’t work weekends, I lose two days to demurrage. That delay costs businesses, while shipping lines profit without consequence.”

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Samson Asaki Awingobit, has urged the Bank of Ghana to sanction individuals and institutions that conduct transactions in U.S. dollars, arguing that such practices undermine the local currency.

“The Bank of Ghana cannot stay in its comfort zone and issue directives without enforcement. They need to get out and inspect. Even hotels are quoting prices in dollars. If shipping line executives commit crimes in Ghana, they must be prosecuted under Ghanaian law, not hidden behind international arbitration clauses. Some of these practices violate our laws and must be treated as such.”

Both GIFF and the Importers and Exporters Association say they are determined to see policy reforms that protect Ghanaian businesses from what they view as exploitative practices by some international shipping lines.


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