The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIIF), along with customs agents and other stakeholders, has given shipping lines across the country a 14-day deadline to address their grievances or face continuous protests.
The groups, frustrated by what they describe as excessive and exploitative charges at Ghana’s ports, organized a protest on Tuesday, September 24.
The demonstrators marched to key shipping companies, including the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Limited and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in Tema, to deliver their petitions.
They demanded immediate action to resolve the issues affecting their operations.
The group expressed its commitment to ensuring that commerce in Ghana is conducted in adherence to the highest standards and that services provided are efficient, fair, and cost-effective.
GIFF is demanding immediate and decisive remedial action on the following:
1. Abolishment of all arbitrary and unjustifiable fees, including local administrative charges, container cleaning fees, and empty container fees, among others.
2. Abolishment of demurrage charges on weekends and
3. Negotiation of shipping lines’ charges with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority as required by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2190).
4. Refund of all unjustified fees previously collected from shippers and freight forwarders.
5. Provision of 24-hour services seven days a week by shipping lines to eliminate unnecessary delays and ensure the timely processing of goods, especially during weekends and public holidays.
6. Cessation of customs house brokerage services by shipping
7. Cessation of the practice of charging fees in dollars.
