Ghanaian importers have warned that a proposed return of the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), also known as the Smart Port Note (SPN), could add between €187.2 million and €382.8 million annually to the cost of clearing cargo through the country’s ports, raising concerns over potential pressure on prices and trade competitiveness.
The estimate, put forward by the Exim Frozen Foods Association of Ghana (EFFAG), is based on the country’s 2024 container throughput of about 1.7 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and fee structures previously associated with attempts to introduce the system. The association says the figure could be higher when other cargo categories are factored in.
EFFAG raised the concerns in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Michael Obiri-Adjei, as debate re-emerges over whether Ghana should reintroduce the CTN/SPN regime to strengthen cargo monitoring and data collection at the ports.
The association argued that the proposed charges would ultimately be passed down the supply chain, with importers warning that consumers would bear the final cost through higher prices of imported goods.
It further maintained that the financial burden comes at a time when businesses are already facing high logistics costs, foreign exchange pressures and rising operational expenses.
EFFAG questioned the justification for introducing what it described as an additional cost layer, arguing that existing digital platforms such as the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and the Ghana Integrated Cargo Clearance System already perform cargo tracking and revenue assurance functions.
The association maintained that the proposed system would add little operational value, insisting that “the CTN/SPN does not solve any identifiable problem within Ghana’s port ecosystem.”
Beyond the cost concerns, the group warned that additional charges and administrative requirements could weaken Ghana’s position as a regional logistics hub, particularly as shipping lines increasingly compare port efficiency and pricing across West Africa.
EFFAG also raised questions about the reported involvement of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) and the Inter-Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute (IOMLI), arguing that any data collection mandate should not translate into new financial obligations for traders.
The association urged the Ministry of Transport to reconsider any move to reintroduce the system, and instead focus on reducing bottlenecks, streamlining port processes, and strengthening existing digital trade systems.
It called on policymakers to prioritise efficiency reforms over what it described as duplicative regulatory structures that risk increasing the cost of doing business.
