Government must address airport cargo delays – Freight Forwarders

The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) has called on the government to urgently address prolonged delays in the clearance of cargo at Ghana’s airports, warning that the situation could undermine the efficiency and competitiveness of the country’s logistics sector.

GIFF President Stephen Adjokatcher said the delays are particularly concerning for airlines and businesses that rely on the timely clearance of critical equipment, aircraft components and spare parts.

Mr Adjokatcher made the call on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the official unveiling of Africa World Airlines’ new Embraer E190 aircraft.

The new aircraft is expected to strengthen the airline’s operations and improve air connectivity.

According to the GIFF President, prolonged delays in clearing cargo at the airport are inconsistent with the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, which seeks to promote round-the-clock economic activity and improve productivity.

He questioned why businesses and airlines sometimes have to wait several days to clear cargo despite the existence of customs facilities intended to facilitate faster processing.

We don’t understand why there’s a centre brought here by Customs so that aviation is speed, but sometimes people take days before they clear things from the airport here,” he said.

Mr Adjokatcher appealed to the Ministry of Transport to engage the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies to find a lasting solution to the clearance challenges.

He said delays in clearing aircraft parts could disrupt airline operations and have wider implications for the efficiency of Ghana’s aviation and logistics sectors.

“I’m happy my Transport Minister is here to address that to the Finance Minister, because it takes days to clear parts from the airport. Why should it be under 24 hours?” he asked.

The GIFF President stressed that the timely availability of aircraft spare parts is particularly important because delays could affect the ability of airlines to maintain and operate their fleets efficiently.

Mr Adjokatcher also called for adequate storage facilities to be provided at Ghana’s airports to enable airlines to keep essential spare parts on-site.

He said airlines should be able to store critical components at the airport and complete the necessary clearance procedures in advance, allowing them to access the parts immediately when required.

“[We need] storage facilities at our airports so that airlines can hold the spare parts there so that they can clear on time when they need it immediately,” he added.

The GIFF President said improved storage arrangements, combined with faster customs clearance processes, could help reduce bottlenecks and strengthen the efficiency of Ghana’s aviation and logistics infrastructure.

He urged the relevant government agencies to treat the issue as a priority in order to support businesses, airlines and the broader economy.