Importers and exporters in Ghana are set to save more than GH¢800 million annually following a new directive by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to cap the Container Administrative Charge at GH¢550 per twenty-foot equivalent unit.
The policy, which takes effect from May 1, 2026, is designed to reduce the cost of doing business at the country’s ports and improve transparency in fees imposed by shipping lines.
Data cited by the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations indicates that shippers paid about GH¢1.69 billion in such charges in 2024. With the new cap in place, businesses are projected to save roughly GH¢802.5 million each year, easing financial pressure on traders and manufacturers.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 22, GUTA welcomed the directive, describing it as a major step toward addressing longstanding concerns over high and often unjustified port-related charges.
The Container Administrative Charge was originally introduced in the late 1980s when vessels relied on ship-mounted gear due to limited port infrastructure. However, industry players argue that those conditions no longer exist, even as the charges have continued to increase over time.
GUTA noted that the decision by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority followed extensive consultations with shipping lines, freight forwarders and other stakeholders, and was implemented under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024.
Under the directive, the charge will now be priced in Ghana cedis instead of US dollars, a move expected to improve cost predictability and reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on businesses.
The association also pledged to work closely with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to ensure strict compliance, warning that any shipping line or agent that exceeds the approved cap would be acting in violation of the law.
GUTA believes the measure will help curb excessive port charges, enhance the competitiveness of Ghana’s ports and support business growth across the country.
