Tema Port; Gift Threatens Demonstration Over Shipping Lines’ Alleged Defiance Of Court Order.
The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) has threatened to embark on a demonstration if shipping lines operating at Ghana’s ports fail to comply with a court ruling on container administrative charges.
The freight forwarders accuse some shipping line operators of disregarding a directive by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, despite an Accra High Court ruling that upheld the Authority’s decision to cap container administrative charges at GH¢720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).
The High Court on July 10, 2026, dismissed an injunction application filed by the shipping lines seeking to prevent the implementation of the directive.
However, freight forwarders say some shipping lines have continued to impose charges far above the approved GH¢720 ceiling, a situation they describe as an exploitation of traders and a disregard for Ghana’s laws.
During a media monitoring exercise at the various shipping line offices at the Tema Port, Executive Member of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders in Tema, Jacob Agyemang, expressed concern over what he described as the continued defiance of the court’s decision.
He alleged that although the court ruling requires shipping lines to charge GH¢720 per container, some operators are still charging as much as GH¢4,000.
Mr. Agyemang said the development was placing an unnecessary financial burden on importers and traders, and called on the relevant authorities to intervene to ensure compliance with the ruling.
He warned that the freight forwarders would give the shipping lines a few weeks to reconsider their position, failing which they would have no option but to mobilise their members for a demonstration.
Council Member of GIFF, Johnny Mantey, also urged the authorities to act swiftly, arguing that the continued imposition of what the freight forwarders consider excessive charges cannot be allowed to persist.
He said the situation was undermining efforts to make Ghana’s ports competitive and was ultimately affecting businesses and consumers.
REPORTER: AHIABOR AUGUSTINE.
