The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has renewed its calls for urgent action by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) to rein in shipping lines accused of ignoring a government-imposed cap on the Container Administrative Charge (CAC).
In a strongly-worded statement released by its Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, the IEAG alleged that some shipping lines are openly violating a legally binding directive that sets the CAC at a maximum of GH¢720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU). The Association described the continued imposition of charges well above this cap as a direct affront to Ghana’s legal and regulatory system, especially after a recent High Court ruling confirmed the GSA’s authority.
“Regrettably, evidence available to the Association, including invoices from major shipping lines such as PIL and MSC, indicates that some operators continue to impose excessive and unjustifiable charges in blatant disregard of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s directive,” the statement read. The Association cited cases where Pacific International Lines (PIL) charged an importer GH¢4,000 for a Container Release Order on a single 40-foot container, and MSC Ghana Limited billed GH¢3,870.46 as an Administrative Import Fee for a single 40HC container. These fees, the Association noted, are more than five times the approved charge of GH¢720 per TEU, representing a clear violation of the GSA’s directive and the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122).
The IEAG did not mince words, calling the actions of the shipping lines “economic sabotage” that not only undermine the GSA’s authority but also challenge the credibility of the country’s judicial system. The Association argued that such practices are the result of years of weak enforcement and a “kid gloves” approach by previous regulators, which have allowed shipping lines to levy arbitrary fees and force importers, exporters, and consumers to bear the financial burden.
According to the IEAG, Parliament’s passage of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024, was meant to strengthen regulatory oversight and protect the interests of businesses and consumers. The Association is now demanding a series of urgent measures, including:
- Immediate enforcement against shipping lines charging above the approved cap.
- Legal action under Section 47 of Act 1122 to compel compliance.
- Imposition of all available regulatory sanctions.
- Refunds of all excess charges collected since the cap was introduced.
- Public disclosure of defaulting shipping lines for transparency.
“The Authority cannot afford to remain silent while regulated entities openly defy its directives,” the statement warned, adding that inaction would embolden further disregard for regulatory decisions.
This renewed pressure from the IEAG comes in the wake of a July 10, 2026, High Court ruling that dismissed efforts by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) and others to halt the GSA’s regulatory directive, thereby affirming the regulator’s mandate to enforce its rules.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com