Importers demands emergency meeting over Tema Port delays, rising charges

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has urged Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to convene an emergency meeting to address shipping delays, container transfer disruptions and rising charges at the Tema Port.

In a statement dated October 19, 2026, Executive Secretary Samson Asaki Awingobit said delays in invoicing, payment processing and container releases were forcing businesses to pay additional demurrage, rent and storage charges despite completing the required payments and documentation.

“The matter therefore requires urgent ministerial attention and coordinated intervention rather than routine stakeholder engagements that do not produce measurable results,” the statement said.

IEAG wants the meeting to involve the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, shipping lines, terminal operators and clearing agents to identify the causes of the delays and establish deadlines for resolving them.

The Association also raised concerns over reported delays involving more than 120 trucks scheduled to transfer containers at Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3, warning of further congestion and increased operational costs. It called for an investigation, noting that the claims had not been independently verified.

IEAG further demanded an impartial investigation into a reported confrontation involving an alleged assault at the Mediterranean Shipping Company office at the port.

The Association called for stricter enforcement of service agreements, with clear performance standards, turnaround times and penalties for service failures.

“Accountability in the maritime sector must be reciprocal,” it said, insisting that shipping lines and terminal operators should be held to the same standards of accountability expected of importers and exporters.