Stakeholders involved in operations at Ghana’s ports are planning to hold a protest today, Tuesday, September 24, at 9 a.m., targeting the shipping lines operating in the country.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News with Umaru Sanda Amadu, the former President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Edward Akrong, explained that the demonstration is intended to push for the removal of hidden charges often imposed on the shipping community for their cargo.
Akrong mentioned that the protest will see the participation of various groups, including the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, and the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana.
He highlighted the financial strain caused by the shipping lines, stating that releasing a 40-foot container can cost nearly $100,000—a burden these stakeholders are determined to challenge.
“This protest has got to do with the shipping lines and their boring charges in our ports. It is against the shipping lines of Ghana and how we have been treated all this while.”
“They [the shipping lines] take all these fees and they keep coming up with new ones. It will cost you almost $100,000 to just release a 40-footer container from a shipping line. They also have other hidden charges and this is not right.”
“All these come under the purview of the Ministry of Transport and we have engaged them severally. About five of my predecessors have written letters that show that we have engaged on this many times and the time has come for this to end it,” Mr. Akrong added.