The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called on President John Mahama to direct the removal of shipping line representatives from the board of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), accusing them of disrespecting government directives and Ghana’s laws.
The Association’s Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, made the call at a press conference, arguing that shipping lines should not be allowed to remain on the board of an institution responsible for regulating their activities.
He said the Association was particularly concerned about the continued imposition of local charges on importers despite directives from government to discontinue them.
“Why would that person, why do you allow such a thing to be stated in our board? Importantly, that’s what I’m saying, it’s not in the board,” Mr Awingobit said.
He argued that shipping lines were operating as representatives of foreign principals and should therefore not exercise influence over the regulatory institution.
“There’s no ship owner in Ghana yet. They are all representing their principal,” he said.
According to him, shipping lines collect freight charges from importers and are expected to remit the appropriate amounts to cover port-related services.
He questioned why they should also be allowed to influence decisions concerning the regulation of their operations.
Mr Awingobit said the local charge under contention was introduced decades ago when Ghana’s ports lacked adequate equipment to handle cargo.
He explained that shipping lines were initially encouraged to bring machinery to assist with the discharge of goods, with charges subsequently imposed for the use of the equipment.
However, he argued that the circumstances had changed, with Ghana’s ports now possessing modern cargo-handling equipment.
“30 years now, or 10 years or 15 years ago to date, the port has the best [equipment] you can get,” he said.
He also criticised the continued charging of importers for moving containers between terminals, arguing that the service was performed by port operators rather than shipping lines.
“That’s what we call movement of handling of containers or cargo,” he said.
Mr Awingobit further urged the government to enforce the law and ensure that all stakeholders operating at the ports respected directives issued by the relevant authorities.
“Now we have a law. And they are disrespecting the law,” he said.
He appealed to the President to ask the Minister of Transport to take the matter to Parliament for consideration.
“President Mahama, please. Tell your transport minister to go to Parliament. That is our plea to you,” he said.
The Association also called for stronger institutional oversight of port operations and measures to protect importers from charges it considers unjustified.
