The Ghana Shippers’ Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to regulating Container Administrative Charges (CAC) imposed by Shipping Lines and their Agents, despite growing opposition and pending legal action by industry players.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 20th May 2026, the Authority explained that the review of the CAC was initiated under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), following persistent complaints from importers, exporters, freight forwarders and trade associations over what they described as excessive charges for cargo release at Ghana’s ports.
According to the GSA, the review process involved comparative studies across competing ports and maritime jurisdictions within the West African sub-region, as well as extensive consultations with stakeholders, including the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG).
The Authority said the engagements resulted in a “balanced regulatory approach” that retained the container-based charging model while introducing a ceiling to prevent arbitrary pricing.
As part of the reforms, Shipping Lines and their Agents were notified on Friday, 20th March 2026 of a regulatory cap of GH¢550 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU), scheduled to take effect from Friday, 1st May 2026.
However, the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, later directed the postponement of the full implementation to Wednesday, 1st July 2026 and approved an interim cap of GH¢720 per TEU pending a final determination.
The GSA disclosed that some Shipping Lines and Agents, particularly members of SOAAG, strongly opposed the directive through petitions, stakeholder engagements and actions by a group identified as the Coalition of Concerned Shipping Line Workers.
The dispute has now moved to court, with some Shipping Lines and Agents seeking an injunction against the directive. The application is expected to be heard on Friday, 22 May 2026.
Despite the legal challenge, the Authority maintained that it remains “unfazed, resilient and committed” to its regulatory mandate.
“The Authority shall mount a spirited defence against every legal battle aimed at undermining the vision of His Excellency the President of the Republic to reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana,” the statement said.
The GSA further appealed to the shipping public to remain calm and continue cooperating with stakeholders as efforts continue to address concerns within the maritime and logistics sector.
The post Shippers’ Authority defend cap on container administrative charges amid legal pushback appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS