The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has backed move by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s (GSA) to cap Container Administrative Charges (CAC) at Ghana’s ports.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority has capped CAC at GHS 550 per TEU, effective May 1, 2026 as part of measures to rationalize charges at the ports.
In a statement Executive Secretary for the Association Samson Asaki Awingobit described the move as timely and long overdue, arguing excessive charges have hurt Ghana’s competitiveness as a trade hub for far too long.
“For decades, importers, exporters, and Ghanaian businesses have borne the brunt of excessive, opaque, and, in many instances, unjustified administrative charges imposed by international shipping lines and their local agents,” the association noted, adding that such threats “will not deter regulatory action in the national interest.”
According to the IEAG, shipping lines’ claims that CAC is essential for operational sustainability are disingenuous, as legitimate port-related costs are already embedded in ocean freight rates.
The association cited regional comparisons showing Ghana’s charges are among the highest, at USD 165 per TEU, compared to USD 30 in Nigeria and USD 68 in Togo.
The IEAG in the statement further refer to the directive as a “reasonable and proportionate ceiling” that protects shippers while allowing operational flexibility.
