The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has thrown its weight behind the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s (GSA) directive to cap Container Administrative Charges (CAC) at Ghana’s ports.
In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, the IEAG described the move as “timely” and “long overdue,” saying excessive charges have hurt Ghana’s competitiveness as a trade hub.
“For decades, importers, exporters, and Ghanaian businesses have borne the brunt of excessive, opaque, and, in many instances, unjustified administrative charges imposed by international shipping lines and their local agents,” the association noted, adding that such threats “will not deter regulatory action in the national interest.”
According to the IEAG, shipping lines’ claims that CAC is essential for operational sustainability are disingenuous, as legitimate port-related costs are already embedded in ocean freight rates.
The association cited regional comparisons showing Ghana’s charges are among the highest, at USD 165 per TEU, compared to USD 30 in Nigeria and USD 68 in Togo.
The GSA has capped CAC at GHS 550 per TEU, effective May 1, 2026.
The IEAG said this is a “reasonable and proportionate ceiling” that protects shippers while allowing operational flexibility.
The association urges stakeholders to comply with the directive, saying attempts to resist or undermine the reform won’t succeed.
