The Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana (FFAG) has declared its intention to drag recalcitrant shipping lines to court over their persistent refusal to comply with the state-mandated GH¢720 ceiling on container administrative fees.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the President of the Association, Nana Asiama Peprah I, revealed that a number of local shipping agents and international maritime carriers continue to blatantly disregard regulatory guidelines established by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA)—a directive recently validated by the High Court.
Under Sections 36 and 47 of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), the GSA instituted an official administrative order pegging the Container Administrative Charge (CAC) at a maximum of GH¢720 per Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).
However, despite the High Court throwing out an injunction application brought against the directive by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG), intelligence gathered from the ports reveals that several shipping companies are still levying extortionate, unapproved rates.
Nana Asiama Peprah I noted that this ongoing defiance directly subverts the rule of law, sabotages national commercial objectives, and imposes an exorbitant burden on local importers, freight handlers, and everyday consumers.
Emphasising that no corporate entity operates above the legal framework, he affirmed that the Association is preparing to drag non-compliant operators to court to compel strict adherence and retrieve excess fees collected from shippers.
He further urged the Ministry of Transport alongside relevant enforcement bodies to step in swiftly, cautioning that unchecked operational charges jeopardise the economic competitiveness of Ghana’s seaports across the West African sub-region.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
