The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) is calling for an urgent stakeholder meeting to resolve an impasse over the Container Administrative Charge (CAC) at Ghana’s ports.
This follows alleged reports that some shipping lines and their agents are charging above the approved GH¢720 ceiling per Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU), increasing the cost of doing business for importers and exporters.
Speaking at a media briefing in Accra, IEAG President Samson Asaki Awingobit said the association was concerned about the continued imposition of charges above the regulatory ceiling.
“The IEAG is concerned that reports of some shipping lines continuing to impose charges above the approved ceiling have the potential to increase the cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports, create uncertainty for importers and exporters, and undermine ongoing efforts to make the country’s ports more competitive,” the Association said.
The IEAG is urging the Transport Ministry to convene a meeting involving the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, shipping lines, shipping agents, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and other port stakeholders.
“We respectfully appeal to the Honorable Minister for Transport to convene an urgent stakeholder meeting involving the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, shipping lines, shipping agents, freight forwarders, importers and exporters, and other relevant port stakeholders to resolve the impasse,” the IEAG said.
The Association also raised concerns about congestion at Tema Port and called on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to consider using spaces currently leased to private businesses for additional container terminal facilities when some leases expire.
It further called for stronger port security and improved digital payment platforms following reported disruptions to government digital services.
On customs valuation, the IEAG reaffirmed its support for the Publican Artificial Intelligence Trade Solution, saying it had helped improve customs valuation and revenue mobilisation.
The Association said more than US$300 million was added to assessed customs collections between the pilot and rollout periods ending July 17, 2026, with about 366,000 import declarations analysed.
It nevertheless urged authorities to strengthen the appeals process, improve the valuation database and enhance stakeholder engagement to ensure timely resolution of valuation disputes.
