Shipping Lines Defy GHS 720 Container Fee Cap Despite Court Ruling, IEAG Demands Sanctions

By: Sebbie, Edward Graham

Some shipping lines are still charging importers more than five times the approved Container Administrative Charge, in flagrant violation of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority’s (GSA) regulatory directive and a High Court ruling backing it.

Compliance has been patchy despite the court victory. The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has accused several shipping lines of continuing to impose exorbitant fees far above the regulated limit.

The Association cited recent invoices where Pacific International Lines (PIL) allegedly charged GHS 4,000 as Container Release Order fee for a 40-footer container, while MSC Ghana reportedly charged GHS 3,870.46 as Administrative Import Fee for a 40-footer High Cube container. The amount represents over five times the approved GHS 720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).

The defiance comes after the GSA intensified enforcement of its directive issued on May 11, 2026, which caps all Container Administrative Charges at GHS 720 per TEU.

The directive is now in full force after the High Court on July 10, 2026, dismissed an application for interlocutory injunction filed by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) and some shipping agents. The Court ruled that the directive had already taken effect upon its issuance and that granting the injunction would interfere with the statutory mandate of the GSA.

In a press release issued on July 13, 2026, the GSA has therefore directed all shipping lines and their agents to comply fully and immediately with the GHS 720 cap.

“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 Authority warned.

The IEAG has welcomed the High Court ruling and is now demanding strict enforcement, including sanctions against non-compliant lines and immediate refund of all excess charges collected from May 11, 2026 onwards.

The Association says such refunds should be paid into an account designated by GSA for transparent verification and reimbursement to affected shippers.

Meanwhile, the GSA is urging all importers, exporters, freight forwarders and the general shipping public to report any instance of non-compliance through its official channels at the 7th Floor, Ghana Shippers House, No. 12 Cruickshank Street, West Ridge, Accra, or via Tel: 0302-666915-7 and Email: info@shippers.org.gh for prompt regulatory action.

For many shippers, full enforcement of the GHS 720 cap would represent significant relief from arbitrary port charges that have long inflated the cost of doing business and weakened the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses.