The atmosphere at Ghana’s ports has never been more charged. Shipping companies and their agents have received a clear directive from the government: begin collecting the approved GH¢720 Container Administrative Charge immediately, no exceptions.
This hard stance was revealed by Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe during an interview on Channel One TV’s The Point of View. His position followed a recent court ruling that dismissed an attempt to block the implementation of the new fee.
“Before we will agree, they will have to be collecting or charging the GH¢720 as we communicated to them before we can sit together with them,” Minister Nikpe stated, emphasizing that compliance with the directive is a prerequisite for any further negotiations. The GH¢720 charge, he clarified, is the regulatory ceiling for the Container Administrative Charge applied to all import and export containers, calculated per Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).
Despite the firm approach, the government is keeping the door open for dialogue. Minister Nikpe assured shipping companies that discussions could resume, but only after they have started applying the fee as stipulated by the authorities.
Meanwhile, a new challenge has emerged: an unprecedented surge in container traffic at Ghana’s ports. According to Minister Nikpe, container volumes have shot up by almost 100 percent, a level not seen in the past twenty years. This dramatic increase has led to significant congestion, especially at the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal in Tema. The congestion has caused delays in cargo clearance and put immense pressure on available terminal space.
To address the bottlenecks, the government is taking action on several fronts. Efforts are underway to remove containers that have overstayed at the port, and shipping lines are being urged to evacuate empty containers that continue to occupy valuable space.
In a bid to ease the pressure, the Railway Development Authority has been enlisted to temporarily move some of the containers to alternate terminals. Additionally, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority has been instructed to acquire two more cranes to speed up cargo handling and reduce delays.
As the shipping industry adapts to these new realities, all eyes are on the government and port authorities to see if these interventions will restore smooth operations and keep Ghana’s trade flowing.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com