Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has tasked Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe and Attorney-General Dr Dominic Akrutinga Ayine to take action against unauthorised shipping charges levied at the country's ports. This directive was issued in response to concerns raised by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders during a visit to the Presidency in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the delegation from the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, led by its President, Stephen Adjokatcher, visited the Presidency to extend their congratulations to President Mahama on his electoral victory in the 2024 general elections. They also highlighted several challenges affecting the shipping sector, including the imposition of unapproved fees by shipping lines.
President Mahama instructed the Minister of Transport to engage with the shipping companies to investigate and address these charges. He emphasized that any fees or levies must be approved by Parliament, as stipulated by law, and that non-compliance must be corrected immediately.
The President noted that the Attorney-General's consultation confirmed that no fees or levies could be imposed within Ghana's territories without Parliamentary approval. He urged the Transport Minister and Attorney-General to ensure that all fees are presented to Parliament for ratification before being charged.
President Mahama expressed alignment with the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders on eliminating unauthorised fees at the nation's ports. He stressed the importance of making Ghana's ports attractive for importers, citing the issue of bottlenecks driving some importers to use ports in Lome due to lower fees, even factoring in the costs of transporting goods from Lome to Accra.
