Key stakeholders operating at Ghana’s ports are set to protest today, Tuesday, September 24, at 9 a.m., in response to excessive and hidden charges imposed by shipping lines entering the country.
Former President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Edward Akrong, disclosed during an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News with Umaru Sanda Amadu that the protest aims to put an end to the burdensome fees affecting the shipping community.
The demonstration will see participation from various industry groups, including the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, and other stakeholders.
Akrong highlighted that it currently costs nearly $1,000 to release a 40-foot container from shipping lines, a financial strain the protest seeks to address.
“This protest is about the shipping lines and the outrageous charges in our ports. It’s against how shipping lines have continuously treated us,” Akrong said.
He noted that shipping lines not only impose hefty fees but frequently introduce new, undisclosed charges, adding to the financial burden.
“Releasing a 40-foot container can cost almost $1,000, not to mention other hidden charges, which is simply unacceptable,” he explained.
Akrong also emphasized that despite repeated engagements with the Ministry of Transport, no resolution has been reached. “Several of my predecessors have written letters showing we’ve engaged on this matter numerous times, but it’s time to put an end to it,” he stressed.
