The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, customs agents, and other stakeholders have staged a protest in Tema, Greater Accra Region, to voice their grievances against what they consider exploitative port charges.
They argue that these fees significantly increase the cost of doing business at the ports.
During the protest, the groups marched to various shipping lines to submit their petition and subsequently delivered the same to the Ministries of Transport and Trade and Industry.
Bismark Ocansey, a freight forwarder, expressed his frustration with current port operations, claiming that high fees are forcing importers to look for alternatives, such as using the port in Togo.
“We are protesting because the shipping lines are taking advantage of us; they are undermining our work. Many importers are now opting for the Togo port due to the charges we face here,” he stated.
He emphasized the negative impact of unexpected costs on their operations, recounting a recent experience where a malfunctioning APS scanner delayed his container’s processing, leading to a demurrage charge of about GH¢10,000, despite the delay not being his fault.
“It’s time to make the shipping lines aware that they are exploiting us,” Ocansey added, noting the challenges he faced in explaining the situation to his importer, who was understandably frustrated by the additional charges.
