Key stakeholders operating at Ghana’s ports are set to stage a protest today, Tuesday, September 24, at 9 a.m., to demand the abolition of hidden charges frequently imposed by shipping lines entering the country. The stakeholders, comprising several associations and organizations within the shipping community, argue that these unwarranted charges are significantly affecting their businesses and the overall cost of operations at Ghana’s ports.
The Former President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Edward Akrong, made this revelation during an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News with Umaru Sanda Amadu. According to Akrong, the protest represents a united front by the shipping community against what they view as unjustified financial burdens imposed on them by shipping lines.
The protest is not limited to one organization but will see the participation of key industry players, including the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, and the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana. Together, these bodies represent a large portion of Ghana’s import-export sector, and their collective grievances highlight the magnitude of the problem they face.
One of the primary issues the stakeholders are protesting is the exorbitant costs associated with releasing cargo containers. Mr. Akrong highlighted that it currently costs nearly $1000 to release a 40-foot container from the shipping lines, a figure that is not only burdensome but is compounded by additional hidden fees. These charges, they argue, are imposed without transparency or explanation, leaving businesses in the dark about the actual cost of shipping.
“This protest has got to do with the shipping lines and their boring charges in our ports,” Akrong explained. “It is against the shipping lines of Ghana and how we have been treated all this while.”
Shipping lines, which are critical to the movement of goods in and out of the country, have been accused of introducing new fees without proper notice or justification. These fees, which come in addition to the high cost of releasing containers, create a ripple effect throughout the shipping community, leading to inflated operational costs that ultimately trickle down to consumers.
Akrong expressed frustration at how these charges are levied, stating, “They [the shipping lines] take all these fees, and they keep coming up with new ones. It will cost you almost $1000 to just release a 40-footer container from a shipping line. They also have other hidden charges, and this is not right.”
These hidden charges, combined with the already steep fees for releasing containers, have become a major financial strain on businesses operating at the ports. As a result, the cost of doing business in Ghana’s shipping sector has become unsustainable for many stakeholders, prompting the protest as a means to force a change.
The stakeholders involved in today’s protest have not remained silent in the face of these charges. Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to engage with relevant authorities, particularly the Ministry of Transport, which oversees the shipping industry in Ghana. However, despite these efforts, little has been done to address the concerns of the shipping community.
Mr. Akrong revealed that previous leaders within the industry have made several attempts to address the issue with the Ministry of Transport. “All these come under the purview of the Ministry of Transport, and we have engaged them severally,” he noted. “About five of my predecessors have written letters that show that we have engaged on this many times, and the time has come for this to end.”
The frustration stems from the fact that while these discussions have taken place, no tangible solutions have been implemented to alleviate the burden on shipping stakeholders. The continued imposition of hidden charges, despite years of negotiations, has led the stakeholders to the conclusion that only direct action will yield results.
The protestors are not merely calling for a reduction in the cost of releasing containers but are demanding full transparency in the pricing structures employed by shipping lines. They want shipping lines to provide clear and justifiable reasons for any fees imposed on their operations. Additionally, they are pushing for the elimination of hidden charges that appear without warning or explanation, placing businesses in a precarious financial position.
Beyond transparency, the protestors are also calling on the government, particularly the Ministry of Transport, to take swift action to regulate the activities of shipping lines. They believe that a stronger regulatory framework is necessary to protect the interests of the shipping community and ensure that businesses can operate in a fair and predictable environment.
Today’s protest is seen as a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle between shipping stakeholders and shipping lines. With several major organizations participating, the protest is expected to send a strong message to both the shipping lines and the government that the current situation is untenable.
The stakeholders are determined to see their demands met and are prepared to continue pushing for change until tangible action is taken. The protest is not just about reducing costs but about ensuring fairness and accountability in the way the shipping industry operates in Ghana.
For now, all eyes will be on the outcome of the protest and whether it will prompt a meaningful response from the shipping lines and the Ministry of Transport. One thing is clear: the stakeholders at Ghana’s ports are no longer willing to accept hidden charges without a fight, and today’s protest marks the beginning of a concerted effort to bring transparency and fairness to the shipping industry.
