The Ghana Shippers’ Authority Ghana Shippers Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing a regulatory ceiling on the Container Administrative Charge (CAC), even as shipping lines and agents move to challenge the directive in court.
The Authority, led by Chief Executive Officer Professor Ransford Gyampo, says it has introduced a revised regulatory framework designed to streamline and control charges imposed by shipping lines and their agents in the country’s ports.
According to the GSA, the move follows sustained complaints from importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and trade associations who argue that port-related charges have become excessive, unpredictable, and in some cases arbitrary.
The regulatory review, undertaken under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), was informed by stakeholder consultations and comparative assessments of port charges across the West African sub region.
The Authority maintains that the overarching goal of the reform is to reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana while improving efficiency within the maritime and logistics ecosystem.
As part of the new framework, the GSA initially set a regulatory cap of GH¢550 per Twenty foot Equivalent Unit (TEU), although implementation was later deferred to July 2026 following a directive from the Transport Minister.
In the interim, an adjusted cap of GH¢720 per TEU has been approved pending a final determination on the matter.
However, the policy has triggered resistance from shipping lines and their agents, including members of the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana, who have filed legal action seeking to halt its implementation.
The case is expected to be heard on Friday, May 22, as both sides prepare to argue their positions before the court.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 20, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority said it would vigorously defend its regulatory mandate and ensure that the policy direction is not undermined.
“We shall mount a spirited defence against every legal battle aimed at undermining the vision of His Excellency, the President of the Republic to reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana,” the statement said.
The Authority also appealed for calm among stakeholders in the shipping and logistics sector, urging continued cooperation as discussions and legal processes unfold.
It added that maintaining stability in the sector is critical to safeguarding trade efficiency and protecting the interests of businesses that depend on Ghana’s ports for import and export operations.
