Freight Forwarders issue 14-day ultimatum to shipping lines or else...

Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIIF), along with customs agents and other stakeholders, has given shipping lines across the country a 14-day deadline to address their grievances or face continuous protests.

The groups, frustrated by what they describe as excessive and exploitative charges at Ghana's ports, organized a protest on Tuesday, September 24.

The demonstrators marched to key shipping companies, including the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Limited and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in Tema, to deliver their petitions.

They demanded immediate action to resolve the issues affecting their operations.

During a press conference following the protest, Kwabena Ofosu Appiah, a former president of the GIIF, outlined the group's concerns and urged the shipping lines to respond swiftly

“We expect positive action on the demands we have made within the next fourteen (14) days, and we count on the cooperation of all shipping lines and relevant authorities in that regard. Our next line of action will be determined by what happens within this period.”

The group expressed its commitment to ensuring that commerce in Ghana is conducted in adherence to the highest standards and that services provided are efficient, fair, and cost-effective.

GIFF is demanding immediate and decisive remedial action on the following:

1. Abolishment of all arbitrary and unjustifiable fees, including local administrative charges, container cleaning fees, and empty container fees, among others.
2. Abolishment of demurrage charges on weekends and
3. Negotiation of shipping lines’ charges with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority as required by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2190).
4. Refund of all unjustified fees previously collected from shippers and freight forwarders.
5. Provision of 24-hour services seven days a week by shipping lines to eliminate unnecessary delays and ensure the timely processing of goods, especially during weekends and public holidays.
6. Cessation of customs house brokerage services by shipping
7. Cessation of the practice of charging fees in dollars.