The Ministry of Finance has called a stakeholder meeting for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to examine proposed changes to customs clearance procedures at Tema Port. The session will review existing cargo clearance processes and consider amendments aimed at addressing operational challenges that are delaying the movement of goods.
The move follows urgent appeals by the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) for intervention to tackle delays in shipping invoices, payment processing and container releases. IEAG says the bottlenecks are driving up demurrage, rent and storage charges for businesses.
IEAG has also highlighted reported disruptions at Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3, where more than 120 trucks scheduled to transfer containers were delayed. The Association argues the delays could extend truck turnaround times, affect haulage schedules and increase operating costs for importers and other port users, and has called for an investigation to establish causes and accountability.
Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem, signing an invitation on behalf of the Finance Minister, noted that the Revenue Policy Division had conducted a preliminary assessment of existing customs clearance procedures and identified operational challenges affecting the smooth and timely clearance and movement of cargo.
The stakeholder meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss and review proposed amendments to the procedures. Participants are expected to include the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Ghana Link Network Services and Meridian Port Services Limited, as well as industry associations and other maritime stakeholders.
Officials from the participating institutions are asked to nominate personnel with relevant technical and operational expertise in port operations and customs clearance. The outcome of the engagement could have implications for importers, exporters, freight forwarders, shipping lines and terminal operators, who are seeking more predictable cargo release processes to reduce avoidable charges and improve port efficiency.
