Mounting Demurrage Costs at Tema Port Likely to Hit Consumers – FABAG Warns

The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has warned that operational delays at the Tema Port are not just slowing imports, they could soon push up prices for everyday consumers.

“Owners of the three vessels currently discharging bulk and bagged goods are already facing substantial demurrage payment, costs that will inevitably be transferred to importers, manufacturers and ultimately Ghanaian consumers,” FABAG said in a statement.

According to the association, vessel cargo discharge rates have collapsed to approximately 200 metric tonnes per day, down from a previous minimum of 2,000 tonnes, a staggering 90% decline in operational efficiency. The port’s introduction of a 24-hour shift system has so far failed to ease the bottleneck, with productivity hampered by inadequate staffing, low morale, and unresolved worker grievances.

These operational challenges have led to unprecedented vessel turnaround delays. Ships are now spending longer at the port, while offloading and evacuation schedules remain inconsistent, driving escalating demurrage, storage, and logistics costs that ripple through the supply chain.

FABAG warned that the bulk and bagged cargo section’s inefficiencies are likely to affect Ghanaian consumers, importers, and local manufacturers alike, adding that public assurances from port management do not reflect the realities on the ground.

“Minimizing the situation does not solve the problem. It rather worsens uncertainty and erodes confidence,” the association said, calling for urgent engagement between port authorities, labour unions, and key stakeholders, alongside independent verification of port performance data.

The association urged immediate corrective measures to restore efficiency and reliability, emphasizing that without swift action, the financial burden of delays and rising demurrage costs could spill over into the pockets of ordinary Ghanaians.