GUTA demands immediate compliance with GH¢720 container charge ruling

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has demanded that shipping lines immediately comply with a High Court ruling and stop overcharging importers on Container Administrative Charges.

In a press statement issued on July 27, 2026, GUTA expressed concern that shipping lines and their agents continue to disregard the law despite the High Court’s dismissal, on Friday, July 10, 2026, of an injunction application filed by the Ship Owners and Agents Association.

The application sought to block the enforcement of a directive issued by the Ghana Shippers Authority on May 11, 2026.

GUTA said its monitoring had shown that several shipping lines were still charging fees well above the approved rate of GH¢720.00, in breach of both the court’s ruling and the Shippers Authority’s directive.

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The association dismissed the shipping lines’ explanation that they were awaiting instructions from their foreign principals before implementing the directive, insisting that no internal administrative process or foreign directive could override Ghanaian law and court decisions.

GUTA is demanding two key actions: full and immediate compliance by all shipping lines and their agents with the approved GH¢720.00 charge, and immediate enforcement action by the relevant regulatory and enforcement authorities.

The traders’ body argued that the continued overcharging places an unnecessary financial burden on businesses, drives up the cost of importing goods and ultimately raises prices for Ghanaian consumers.

It added that the practice undermines government efforts to reduce the cost of doing business at the ports and improve the country’s economic competitiveness.

“Ghana is a sovereign nation governed by the rule of law. No foreign company or its local representative is above the laws of this country,” the statement said.

GUTA called on all relevant state institutions to take swift and decisive action to enforce compliance and protect the interests of Ghana’s trading community.



DR/MA