The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, GIFF, is demanding the strict enforcement of the GH¢720 cap on the Container Administrative Charge, warning that continued non-compliance by some shipping lines is undermining regulatory directives and increasing cost pressures across Ghana’s logistics chain.
The Institute says although the directive has been communicated to shipping lines, some operators continue to charge beyond the prescribed limit.
Speaking to Citi Business News, General Secretary of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Paul Kobina Mensah, said government must move beyond issuing directives and correspondence and ensure that there are consequences for non-compliance.
“It is unfortunate, and we seem to be helpless. It’s a directive and must be enforced.”
Mr Mensah argued that repeated letters to shipping lines will have little impact if the relevant regulatory agencies are not empowered to compel compliance.
He said the situation creates uncertainty for freight forwarders and could ultimately add to the cost of doing business in Ghana’s maritime and logistics sector.
“When the directive goes out and the relevant agencies or companies are not adhering to that directive, I think there should be a mechanism to make them respect the directive and act accordingly.”
According to him, the continued practice of charging beyond the prescribed limit raises questions about the effectiveness of enforcement within Ghana’s shipping industry.
Mr Mensah said while authorities have written to the affected shipping lines, the Institute has yet to see sufficient action to bring the operators into compliance.
“In this case, we seem to only hear letters being written to them. Letters are written to them all right. They still don’t care.”
The GIFF is therefore calling on government and the relevant regulatory institutions to introduce stronger enforcement measures, including appropriate sanctions where necessary, to ensure that the GH¢720 cap is respected.
The Institute believes effective enforcement will help reduce avoidable charges, provide greater cost certainty for freight forwarders and importers, and improve transparency across the maritime logistics chain.
For businesses that depend on Ghana’s ports, GIFF says predictable and enforceable charges are critical to controlling operating costs and maintaining a competitive trading environment.
The call also comes amid broader concerns within the freight and logistics sector over the rising cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports, with industry players insisting that regulatory directives must be backed by effective enforcement.
SOURCE: CITI NEWSROOM
