President John Dramani Mahama has expressed deep concern over what he described as unjustified administrative charges imposed by shipping lines operating in Ghana, describing the practice as inefficient and economically harmful.
Speaking during a meeting with Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) at the Jubilee House on Thursday, July 11, 2025, the President said recent stakeholder discussions involving the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ministry of Transport, and other key institutions had revealed growing frustration among traders about the way shipping lines impose charges at the country’s ports.
“Another major concern is the shipping lines. Almost everyone complains about them,” President Mahama said.
President Mahama has criticized shipping lines for imposing repetitive administrative charges on importers, pointing out that whether traders bring in one container or twenty under the same bill of lading, they are charged the same fee multiple times.
He argued that this practice is unjustified since the paperwork process remains the same regardless of the number of containers, calling it an illogical burden on businesses.
“A key issue raised was the administrative charges imposed by shipping lines. If you bring in one container, they charge an administrative fee. If you bring in 20 containers under the same bill of lading, they charge that same administrative fee 20 times. However, the administrative process for preparing the paperwork is essentially the same whether for one or 20 containers. It makes no sense that the same paperwork generates multiple charges.”
He noted that this practice appears unique to Ghana and is not observed at other ports in the region, such as Lomé.
This, he said, is one of the reasons traders are increasingly rerouting cargo through neighbouring countries where charges are more affordable, even after factoring in trucking costs to Accra.
“We’ve tasked the Minister of Transport to investigate this further and engage the shipping lines to resolve it,” Mahama said.
The President also revealed that a legal review conducted with the Attorney General confirmed that no fees or levies can legally be imposed within Ghana’s jurisdiction without approval by Parliament.
“Therefore, any administrative charges imposed by shipping lines must be submitted to Parliament for ratification. We’ve instructed the Minister of Transport and the Attorney General to ensure this happens as quickly as possible,” he stressed.
President Mahama reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating a competitive and efficient port system that attracts more business to Ghana.
“We are fully aligned with your concerns. We share your vision of making Ghana’s ports the preferred destination for traders,” he told the freight forwarders.
He pledged continued collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Shippers Authority, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and other stakeholders to address inefficiencies at the ports and restore Ghana’s competitive edge in regional trade.
“These bottlenecks are precisely why some importers are choosing to route goods through Lomé,” he said. “Clearly, something must change.”
