The Food and Beverage Industry Association of Ghana (FABAG) has backed efforts by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) to regulate shipping-related charges, arguing that high port and logistics costs continue to increase the financial burden on businesses and undermine broader efforts to improve Ghana’s competitiveness and economic development.
The association warned that excessive shipping and port charges are placing additional pressure on manufacturers, importers and consumers at a time when businesses are already navigating elevated operational costs, exchange rate volatility, inflationary conditions and intensified market competition.
In a statement, FABAG expressed support for measures by the GSA aimed at promoting greater transparency and accountability within the shipping and logistics sector, stating that reducing unnecessary cost pressures remains essential to sustaining business growth and stabilising prices across supply chains.
The association also criticised legal action reportedly initiated by some international shipping lines seeking to halt implementation of regulatory measures by the GSA, describing the move as “counterproductive” and “detrimental to the broader national interest.”
According to FABAG, businesses within the food and beverage sector have for years absorbed the impact of “excessive port and shipping-related charges,” which it said have increased the cost of doing business and contributed to rising consumer prices.
The group indicated that interventions aimed at strengthening oversight of the sector should not be delayed, particularly when the country is seeking to improve the operating environment for businesses and attract investment.
FABAG said the GSA should be allowed to exercise its “lawful regulatory mandate” without “intimidation or obstruction,” stressing that shipping-related fees should remain transparent, justified and subjected to stakeholder consultations.
It further argued that the interests of Ghanaian businesses and consumers should take precedence over “profit-driven practices” that negatively affect economic activity and industrial growth.
The association also urged the government to sustain reforms intended to improve efficiency and competitiveness at the country’s ports while reducing the cost of imports and production.
FABAG called on government agencies, trade associations, labour groups and civil society organisations to support ongoing regulatory efforts in the shipping sector, noting that ensuring fairness across the logistics and port ecosystem remains important for protecting jobs, investments and long-term industrial development.
