High Court upholds GSA's GH¢720 container charge directive

The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has announced that the High Court has dismissed an application seeking to halt the implementation of its directive capping Container Administrative Charges (CAC), describing the ruling as a major step in its efforts to regulate shipping service charges in the country.

According to a statement released on Monday, July 13, 2026, the application was filed by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) and some shipping agents, who sought to restrain the enforcement of the Authority’s Regulatory Directive.

The directive sets a maximum Container Administrative Charge of GH¢720 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).

The GSA said the Court ruled that the directive had already taken effect upon issuance and therefore declined to grant the injunction. It added that the Court held that stopping the implementation of the directive would hinder the Authority’s ability to carry out its statutory regulatory responsibilities.

"The Court held that the Directive had already taken effect upon its issuance and consequently declined to grant the injunction sought. The Court further noted that granting the application would impede the statutory regulatory mandate of the Ghana Shippers' Authority," the Authority said.

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Following the ruling, the GSA directed all shipping lines and their agents to immediately comply with the directive, warning that operators who fail to do so will face sanctions under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122).

"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 statement said.

The Authority also urged importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders in the shipping industry to report any cases of non-compliance through its official complaint channels.

The GSA reiterated its commitment to protecting the interests of both shippers and shipping lines while promoting transparency and fairness and supporting government’s efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana.

"The Authority remains resolute in the discharge of its statutory mandate to regulate the commercial shipping industry, promote transparency and fairness in the application of shipping service charges, and in full support of Government's commitment to reducing the cost of doing business in Ghana," the statement added.

ANAS/MA

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