Mahama Pledges To Abolish Illegal Port Fees, Wants All Charges Vetted by Parliament
Mahama Pledges To Abolish Illegal Port Fees, Wants All Charges Vetted by Parliament
President John Dramani Mahama has directed that all levies and taxes imposed by shipping companies operating at Ghana’s ports be submitted to Parliament for approval, declaring any charges not backed by law as illegitimate.
The directive was issued during a meeting with the leadership of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) at the Jubilee House in Accra on Friday, July 11, 2025.
President Mahama stated that the decision is part of efforts to enhance transparency in port operations and eliminate unauthorized administrative fees levied by shipping lines.
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“The law is clear fees and levies must be approved by Parliament. No one can impose charges within Ghana’s jurisdiction without legal backing,” he stressed. “The Minister for Transport and the Attorney-General have been instructed to ensure all such fees are brought before Parliament.”
His comments followed complaints from freight forwarders about excessive and arbitrary charges by shipping lines.
Stephen Adjokatcher, President of GIFF, highlighted that some shipping companies demand administrative fees in US dollars for each container, even when multiple containers fall under a single bill of lading.
“If there are 20 containers on one bill of lading, you’re billed 20 times. But in places like China, it’s just one fee per bill,” Adjokatcher said.
He also pointed out that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) already provides port processing services, yet shipping lines continue to charge extra. Previous appeals to the Ghana Shippers Authority, he added, have yielded no results.
“We’ve approached the Ghana Shippers Authority several times, but nothing has been done. These charges are unregulated and unjustified,” he said.
President Mahama further expressed concern about declining revenue from Tema Port despite a rise in cargo volumes. He revealed that the Finance Minister had reported the revenue drop to Cabinet, prompting a directive for an investigation into potential leakages.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing port infrastructure through the “Big Push” programme, which earmarks $10 billion in capital investment over five years.
Mahama emphasized that the success of the proposed 24-hour economy hinges on efficient port operations.
More relief for Ghanaians..🫠
“And you cannot charge any fee or levy within the territories of Ghana without parliamentary approval” – President Mahama #AbanPapaAba pic.twitter.com/nEFGWCJl6D
— HarunaSpeaks1 (@HarunaSpeaks1) July 13, 2025
Source: Nkonkonsa.com
