Key stakeholders operating at Ghana’s ports are set to stage a protest today, Tuesday, September 24, at 9 a.m., against shipping lines entering the country.
Former President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Edward Akrong, announced on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News with Umaru Sanda Amadu that the protest aims to put an end to the hidden charges frequently imposed on members of the shipping community for their cargo.
Akrong explained that the protest will include members from the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, and the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana.
He further highlighted that it currently costs nearly $1,000 to release a 40-foot container from shipping lines, a financial burden that stakeholders are determined to eliminate.
“This protest is focused on the shipping lines and the excessive charges at our ports. We are protesting against how shipping lines in Ghana have treated us,” Akrong stated.
He continued, “They keep adding fees and introducing new ones. Just to release a 40-foot container costs almost $1,000, and there are additional hidden charges, which is unacceptable.”
Akrong also emphasized that despite several engagements with the Ministry of Transport, including letters from his predecessors, the issue remains unresolved, and now is the time to bring an end to these excessive charges.