Mahama orders probe into excessive shipping line charges

President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the Ministry of Transport to initiate a formal review into the growing concerns about administrative charges imposed by shipping lines operating in Ghana.

The President’s directive follows rising tensions within the freight forwarding industry, particularly concerns raised by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders about what they describe as unjustified and burdensome fees that continue to affect importers and businesses across the country.

Speaking during a closed-door engagement with leaders of the Institute, President Mahama acknowledged the seriousness of the matter and confirmed that steps are being taken to ensure accountability and compliance.

“We charged the Minister of Transport to go into it and sit with the shipping lines and look into those administrative charges,” he said.

President Mahama also revealed that legal consultations with the Attorney General have confirmed that all fees, levies, or charges enforced within the country must receive prior approval from Parliament.

“You cannot charge any fee or levy within the territories of Ghana without parliamentary approval. That must be rectified as soon as possible,” the President added.

He has therefore tasked both the Transport Ministry and the Attorney General’s office to collaborate on ensuring that all fees currently in place are scrutinised and aligned with the law.

The intervention is expected to bring relief to businesses operating at Ghana’s ports, where stakeholders have long complained about the cost implications of layered shipping-related charges.

“This is about fairness, legality, and making our ports more competitive,” the President noted, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving the efficiency of trade and logistics in the country.

Industry players have welcomed the President’s move, describing it as long overdue. Many hope the investigation will lead to policy clarity and better regulation of fees imposed by third-party shipping companies.

The Ministry of Transport is expected to begin consultations with industry stakeholders in the coming days, with a report expected to follow.