Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has clamped down on unapproved shipping fees and has ordered a comprehensive review to enforce parliamentary approval.
The directive, issued on 11 July 2025 during a meeting with the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders targets escalating costs that threaten the competitiveness of ports like Tema and Takoradi. Importers have supported the move, signalling that it may be a potential game-changer for West African trade.
Mahama tasked Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe and Attorney General Dominic Ayine with role of engaging shipping lines to ensure compliance.
“The law states that all fees and levies must be ratified by Parliament,” he said, addressing freight forwarders’ complaints about opaque administrative surcharges that inflated operational costs.
The Ghana Shippers Authority’s ongoing probe into foreign exchange violations by shipping lines underpins the presidential directive, which aligns with legal requirements for fee ratification.
Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, told the country’s Citi Business News: “If the government manages to get parliament to approve all handling charges and ensure shipping lines comply with the law, it would eliminate duplicate fees.”
He predicts lower import costs and reduced inflation if the rules are enforced, which will boost Ghana’s trade gateway status amid competition from Abidjan and Lomé.
Tema, handling over 80% of Ghana’s maritime trade, and Takoradi, are at the heart of the battle. Unapproved fees, often in US dollars per container, counteract the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority’s 24-hour operations push. The directive’s success hinges on parliamentary action and shipping line cooperation.
Source: GhanaWeb
