The High Court in Accra has dismissed an application for an interlocutory injunction filed by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana
(SOAAG) and some Shipping Agents, seeking to restrain the implementation and
enforcement of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s Regulatory Directive on administrative charges. The directive dated 11th May 2026, sought to cap the Container Administrative Charge (CAC) at GHS 720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).
In a statement the Prof. Ransford Gyampo led Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) informed all Shipping Lines and their
Agents, Importers, Exporters, Freight Forwarders, and the general shipping public about the ruling which was delivered on Friday, 10th July 2026 by the High Court.
“In its ruling, the Court held that the Directive had already taken effect upon its
issuance and consequently declined to grant the injunction sought. The Court
further noted that granting the application would impede the statutory regulatory
mandate of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority.”
The effect of the Court’s ruling according to the Authority is that “the Regulatory Directive of 11th May 2026 remains valid, operational, and in full force.” The GSA has consequently directed all Shipping Lines and their Agents to comply fully and
immediately with the Directive capping the Container Administrative Charge at
GHS 720 per TEU.
The statement further cautioned stakeholders against flouting the directive since there will be consequences.
“Any Shipping Line or Shipping Agent that fails to comply with the Directive shall
be liable to the appropriate regulatory and enforcement measures in accordance
with Sections 36 and 47 of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122)
and any other applicable laws.” the statement cautioned.
The GSA has therefore urged all importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and the general shipping public to promptly report any instance of non-compliance by any Shipping Line or
Shipping Agent through its established
complaint and reporting channels for the necessary regulatory action.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority in conclusion assured that it shall continue to act fairly in protecting the interests of both shippers and shipping lines and in creating a win-win enabling environment for businesses to thrive through the democratic canon of dialogue on
all thorny issues that affect stakeholders.
According to the Authority, it remains resolute in the discharge of its statutory mandate to regulate the commercial shipping industry, promote transparency and fairness in the application of shipping service charges, and in full support of Government’s commitment to reducing the cost of doing business in Ghana.
