The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG) has thrown its weight behind the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), insisting that shipping lines operating in the country must comply with Ghana’s regulatory framework or exit the market.
This comes after the GSA, in a statement on Wednesday, May 20, defended its decision to regulate Container Administrative Charges (CAC) imposed by shipping lines and agents, insisting the move is aimed at reducing the high cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports.
The Authority disclosed that some shipping lines and agents, particularly members of SOAAG, have strongly opposed the directive and initiated various actions, including petitions, engagements, and legal action seeking an injunction against the implementation of the reforms.
According to the statement, some employees of shipping lines under the Coalition of Concerned Shipping Line Workers have also joined the opposition against the directive.
Despite the resistance, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority said it remains committed to enforcing reforms aimed at eliminating arbitrary pricing practices in the shipping and logistics sector.
But in a statement shared with Citi News on Thursday, May 21, FABAG criticised legal actions reportedly taken by some shipping companies seeking to block the enforcement of new regulatory measures introduced by the GSA. FABAG described the move as “unfortunate, counterproductive, and detrimental to the broader national interest.”
According to FABAG, Ghanaian businesses—particularly those in the food and beverage sector—have for years endured excessive port and shipping-related charges that continue to drive up the cost of doing business and fuel higher consumer prices.
FABAG noted that the current economic environment, characterised by high operational costs, currency pressures, inflation, and uneven trade conditions, demands urgent interventions to ease the burden on local industries rather than deepen it.
It commended the GSA for what it described as its firm commitment to transparency, fairness, and accountability in regulating the shipping and logistics sector, adding that attempts to frustrate its mandate through court processes risk undermining national efforts to improve the business climate.
FABAG outlined key expectations, stressing that the Shippers’ Authority must be allowed to execute its legal mandate without intimidation, while shipping charges must remain transparent, justified, and subject to stakeholder consultation. It also urged that the interests of Ghanaian businesses and consumers take priority over excessive profit-driven practices.
The Association further called on government institutions, trade bodies, labour groups, and civil society organisations to rally behind the GSA’s reforms aimed at restoring fairness and sanity in port operations.
FABAG reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and policy advocacy to protect jobs, investments, and the competitiveness of Ghana’s business environment.
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