President John Dramani Mahama has referred a petition from the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana to the Ministry of Transport for consideration, following calls for a review of the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana’s representation on the governing boards of two major maritime institutions.
The petition by the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, IEAG, concerns SOAAG’s representation on the boards of the Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, with the importers’ association questioning whether the continued presence of shipping industry representatives on the two boards remains appropriate in view of ongoing regulatory disagreements within the maritime sector.
In its petition, the IEAG raised concerns over what it described as persistent non compliance with government directives and broader accountability issues involving stakeholders within Ghana’s maritime industry.
The association has also drawn attention to the continued controversy surrounding the Container Administrative Charge imposed on importers and exporters, an issue that has become a significant point of contention between shipping interests, regulators and businesses operating through Ghana’s ports.
The Presidency, in a letter dated September 16, 2026, formally acknowledged receipt of the petition and indicated that the matter had been forwarded to the Ministry of Transport for the necessary action.
“I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15th September, 2026, and to inform you that the petition has been duly noted and referred to the Ministry of Transport for necessary action,” the letter stated.
The referral does not, however, indicate that the government has accepted the demands contained in the petition. It means that the concerns raised by the IEAG have been transmitted to the Transport Ministry for examination and consideration.
The petition comes against the backdrop of a continuing dispute over the Container Administrative Charge. In May 2026, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority directed that the charge should not exceed GH¢720 per Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit for both import and export containers, while allowing further stakeholder consultations on the final fee structure.
The disagreement subsequently became the subject of legal proceedings after SOAAG and some shipping agents sought an interlocutory injunction to prevent implementation of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority directive.
The Accra High Court dismissed that application in July, with the court holding that the regulatory directive had already taken effect and that granting the injunction would interfere with the statutory mandate of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority.
The IEAG has subsequently maintained its objections to charges that it says exceed the approved ceiling. The association has argued that importers and exporters should not continue to bear charges above the regulatory limit and has called for stronger enforcement of the directive.
The latest petition therefore places the question of industry representation on the boards of the Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority within a wider debate over regulatory oversight, stakeholder participation and the administration of charges affecting businesses that use Ghana’s ports.
The Ghana Maritime Authority itself identifies the Ship Owners and Agents Association among the industry bodies that work alongside government agencies and other maritime stakeholders within the sector.
The Transport Ministry is now expected to consider the concerns raised by the IEAG and determine what further action may be appropriate. The Presidency’s referral, however, does not itself amount to a decision to remove or replace SOAAG representatives from either board.
The development places the Transport Ministry at the centre of a fresh stakeholder dispute involving the governance of Ghana’s maritime institutions and the regulatory framework governing the country’s import and export operations.
