Government agencies and private sector players in Ghana’s shipping and logistics sector have pledged to tackle persistent operational bottlenecks that continue to increase the cost of doing business at the country’s ports.
The commitment was made during a stakeholder engagement organised by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) in Accra, where key institutions across the port value chain discussed practical measures to improve cargo clearance, reduce delays and enhance trade facilitation.
The meeting followed a series of second-quarter consultations conducted by the Authority with importers, exporters and trade associations, during which shippers outlined challenges affecting port operations.
According to a statement issued by the GSA, participants included shippers categorised as Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze clients based on their import and export volumes, as well as representatives of various trade associations.
Among the major concerns raised were port congestion, delays resulting from multiple inspections and regulatory procedures, bureaucratic bottlenecks, documentation fraud, corruption and the imposition of informal charges.
The Authority said these challenges continue to raise logistics costs, reduce operational efficiency and weaken Ghana’s competitiveness as a regional trade and transit hub.
Representatives from the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and other state institutions responded to the issues and outlined measures being implemented to address them.
Mrs. Abena Serwaa Opoku-Fosu, Deputy Marketing Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, announced that the Authority would waive rent charges on cargo delayed by port congestion to lessen the financial burden on shippers.
She also said the GPHA was investing in the continued modernisation of the Tema and Takoradi ports to improve cargo movement and increase operational efficiency.
Major Adams Suleman, National Security Coordinator at Tema Port, assured stakeholders that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure the safe movement of cargo while maintaining professionalism among security personnel operating at the ports.
Mr. Kofi Baidoo, representing the Ministry of Finance, addressed concerns surrounding the Republican AI Duty System, assuring stakeholders that genuine appeals arising from duty assessment discrepancies would be handled promptly.
He encouraged affected shippers to investigate such cases and submit formal complaints to enable the appropriate authorities to review and resolve the issues without delay.
Mrs. Monica Josiah, Head of the Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation Department at the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, said the Authority would continue engaging shippers and shipping service providers to identify operational challenges and work with relevant institutions to ensure agreed reforms were implemented.
She said the quarterly stakeholder engagements would also serve as a platform to monitor progress and hold institutions accountable for commitments made.
Participants agreed that reducing the cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports remains critical to improving Ghana’s trade competitiveness and strengthening its position as the preferred maritime gateway for land-linked countries within the sub-region.
The agencies also reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the automation of port processes, improving transparency and responding swiftly to allegations of corruption whenever formal complaints are lodged.
Industry stakeholders expressed optimism that sustained collaboration between regulators and the private sector would help improve port efficiency, reduce clearance costs and support Ghana’s broader trade and economic growth agenda.
