Prosper AGBENYEGA
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called for the immediate refund of excess Container Administrative Charges (CAC) collected by shipping lines following a High Court ruling that upheld the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s (GSA) directive capping the charges.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 13, the Association welcomed the court’s dismissal of an application by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) and some shipping lines seeking to suspend the implementation of the GSA’s Container Administrative Charge directive.
According to the IEAG, the ruling confirms that the regulatory directive issued by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority on May 11, 2026, remains valid and enforceable, describing the decision as a victory for regulatory certainty and Ghanaian businesses that have long complained about excessive administrative charges at the country’s ports.
The Association said importers and exporters had for years been burdened with unjustified Container Administrative Charges imposed by shipping lines, despite the original reasons for introducing the fees no longer existing. It argued that the continued charges increased the cost of doing business, fuelled inflation and undermined the competitiveness of local businesses.
Under the GSA directive, Container Administrative Charges were capped at GH¢720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) as an interim measure pending broader stakeholder consultations on a permanent pricing regime.
However, IEAG alleged that several shipping lines ignored the directive and continued collecting amounts above the approved cap while the matter was before the court.
The Association is now urging the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to begin strict enforcement of the directive and ensure that every shipping line or agent that charged more than GH¢720 per TEU from May 11, 2026, accounts for and refunds the excess amounts to affected importers and exporters.
It proposed that where necessary, the excess collections should be paid into an account designated by the GSA to facilitate transparent verification and reimbursement to affected businesses.
IEAG further warned that allowing shipping lines to retain monies collected in contravention of the directive would undermine public confidence in the regulator and reward non-compliance.
The Association also called on the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to invoke all enforcement powers available under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), against shipping lines and agents found to have deliberately violated the directive. It appealed to the Ministry of Transport to provide the Authority with the institutional and legal support needed to strengthen regulation within the shipping sector.
Reaffirming its commitment to trade reforms, the IEAG said it would continue working with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and other stakeholders to promote a transparent, competitive and efficient shipping and logistics sector that supports Ghana’s economic growth.
