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Ghana’s shipping stakeholders protest against exorbitant charges by shipping lines, urging regulatory reform to reduce business costs and improve port operations

Some stakeholders of Ghana’s shipping industry have converged at Tema to protest against unfair charges and treatment by shipping lines operating at the country’s ports.

These stakeholders include the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Exporters and Importers Association, Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, and Customs Brokers Association of Ghana among others.

These players in the sector are bemoaning what they describe as exorbitant and arbitrary charges such as local administrative fees, container cleaning fees, and empty container fees.

In an interview with The Ghana Times, the Executive Secretary of Exporters and Importers Association, Samson Asaki Awingobit explained that these unwarranted charges are piling up the cost of doing business and increasing the prices of items on the market.

“Unwarranted charges are what we are fighting. We think that they are taking undue advantage of the business community which is adding up to the cost of doing business in the country. These charges must be scrapped,” he noted.

Due to these and many other business unfriendly practices allegedly perpetuated by the shipping lines, these stakeholders are calling for the implementation of the new Ghana Shippers’ Authority to streamline and regulate the activities at the ports.

Checks by Brand Focus Africa can confirm that the aggrieved players have converged at the premise of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders at Tema and they are expected to march to the Tema Port.

Organizers say the protest is expected to continue throughout the week till Friday, September 27.