Importers demand refunds, sanctions as shipping lines defy GH¢720 container fee cap

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called on the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) to take immediate enforcement action against shipping lines that it says are continuing to impose container administrative charges far above the legally approved limit.

The Association argues that the continued collection of excessive fees, despite a recent High Court ruling affirming the Authority's regulatory powers, represents a blatant disregard for Ghana's laws and threatens efforts to reduce the cost of doing business at the country's ports.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, the Association described the actions of some shipping companies as economic sabotage, saying they undermine both the authority of the regulator and the country's judicial system.

According to the IEAG, evidence in its possession shows that some major shipping lines continue to impose charges several times higher than the approved GH¢720 Container Administrative Charge (CAC) per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).

The Association cited invoices allegedly issued by Pacific International Lines (PIL) and MSC Ghana Limited as examples of what it described as unlawful charges.

It alleged that:

• Pacific International Lines (PIL) charged an importer GH¢4,000 as a Container Release Order fee for a single 40-foot container.
• MSC Ghana Limited charged GH¢3,870.46 as an Administrative Import Fee for a single 40HC container.

According to the Association, both charges exceed the approved cap by more than five times and violate the Ghana Shippers' Authority's regulatory directive.

These amounts are more than five times the approved Container Administrative Charge of GH¢720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) and constitute a clear violation of the Authority's lawful directive and the provisions of the Ghana Shippers' Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122)," the statement said.

The IEAG argued that excessive administrative fees have for years contributed to the high cost of clearing goods through Ghana's ports.

It said importers and exporters have consistently borne the burden of arbitrary charges imposed by some shipping lines, with the additional costs ultimately being passed on to businesses and consumers.

The Association believes the continued non-compliance exposes weaknesses in the enforcement of regulations governing the commercial shipping industry.

It further argued that Parliament enacted the Ghana Shippers' Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122) to strengthen oversight of shipping service providers and protect businesses from unfair charges.

The Association is urging the Ghana Shippers' Authority to take decisive measures against operators that continue to disregard the approved charges.

Its key demands include:

• Immediate enforcement action against shipping lines charging above the approved GH¢720 Container Administrative Charge.
• An application to the High Court under Section 47 of Act 1122 to compel compliance.
• The imposition of all available regulatory sanctions against defaulting operators.
• Refunds to importers and exporters who have paid charges above the approved limit since the directive took effect.
• Publication of the names of non-compliant shipping lines to promote transparency and accountability.

"The Authority cannot afford to remain silent while regulated entities openly defy its directives," the Association stated, warning that failure to act could weaken confidence in Ghana's regulatory institutions.

The renewed call for enforcement follows a High Court ruling delivered on July 10, 2026, which dismissed an application filed by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) and other parties seeking to halt the implementation of the Ghana Shippers' Authority's Regulatory Directive issued on May 11, 2026.

The court's decision effectively affirmed the Authority's legal mandate to regulate charges within Ghana's shipping industry.

The IEAG says the ruling leaves no legal basis for continued non-compliance and expects the regulator to ensure full implementation of the directive.

The Association maintains that effective enforcement of the approved Container Administrative Charge will help reduce the cost of doing business, improve transparency at Ghana's ports and strengthen confidence in the country's trade and logistics sector.