The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, and the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, in collaboration with several trade associations and manufacturers are demonstrating against what they describe as exploitative practices by shipping lines operating in the country.
The rest are; Ghana Union of Traders Association, EXIM Frozen Foods Association of Ghana, Food and Beverages Association of Ghana.
They are marching through the streets of Tema, with petitions submitted to the Ministries of Transport, Trade, Finance, and other key institutions, calling for immediate regulatory action.
Members of GIFF have raised serious concerns over the imposition of various arbitrary fees by shipping lines, including local administrative charges, container cleaning fees, and demurrage fees, often charged during weekends and public holidays when operations are suspended.
These fees, pegged against the US dollar, are said to violate Bank of Ghana’s regulations and place undue financial pressure on businesses.
According to GIFF, these unregulated practices have negatively impacted the logistics sector and the broader Ghanaian economy.
“Shipping lines have operated with impunity for too long, imposing unjustifiable costs that harm freight forwarders, importers, exporters, and ultimately consumers,” said a spokesperson for GIFF.
The group highlighted that these charges, when combined with delays and inefficiencies, inflate the cost of doing business and contribute to Ghana’s weakened foreign exchange position.
The protest also seeks to address a practice in which shipping lines, contrary to the Customs Act of 2015, are engaging in customs brokerage, sidelining freight forwarders and monopolizing services in a manner that the association views as anti-competitive.
Some of the clearing agents said many of their mates have folded up with many more of the getting out of business.
“The shipping lines now engage our clients behind us making us lose our business”.
The group has served notice of another massive protest towards the presidency in 14 days if their concerns are not addressed.