The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called on the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to immediately sanction shipping lines that continue to impose container administrative charges above the approved regulatory cap, warning that continued inaction could trigger industrial action and disrupt operations at the country’s ports.

In a press statement issued on July 28, the Association accused some shipping lines of defying a directive by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority that capped the Container Administrative Charge (CAC) at GH¢720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU). IEAG said the directive remains legally binding following a High Court ruling on July 10, 2026, which dismissed an application seeking to halt its implementation.

According to the Association, evidence gathered from invoices issued by shipping companies, including Pacific International Lines and MSC Ghana Limited, shows that some operators continue to charge importers far above the approved rate.

It alleged that Pacific International Lines charged GH¢4,000 as a Container Release Order fee for a single 40-foot container, while MSC Ghana Limited imposed an Administrative Import Fee of GH¢3,870.46 on a 40HC container. IEAG argued that the charges are more than five times the approved amount and violate both the Authority’s directive and the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122).

The Association described the continued practice as “economic sabotage” that undermines both the regulatory authority of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and the country’s judicial system, adding that the excessive charges continue to increase the cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports.

IEAG further argued that years of weak enforcement have emboldened some shipping operators to ignore regulatory directives, despite the passage of Act 1122, which grants the Authority powers to regulate the commercial shipping industry and protect users of shipping services.

The Association is therefore demanding that the Ghana Shippers’ Authority immediately invoke its enforcement powers under Section 47 of Act 1122 by initiating legal proceedings against all non-compliant shipping lines, imposing the appropriate sanctions, compelling the refund of excess charges collected from importers and exporters, and publicly naming offending companies.

IEAG warned that failure by the Authority to act decisively would weaken confidence in Ghana’s regulatory framework and send the wrong signal to industry players.

The Association also cautioned that if urgent enforcement measures are not taken, it would consider all lawful options available, including organising industrial action and the possible suspension of activities at the ports to protect the interests of its members.

It maintained that no company is above the laws of Ghana and insisted that any operator found violating the directive should face the full force of the law as a deterrent to others. The Association reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to promote a fair, transparent and competitive shipping environment while supporting government’s efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.