The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has urged Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to convene an emergency stakeholder meeting to address persistent shipping delays, container transfer disruptions and rising operational costs at the Tema Port.
IEAG Executive Secretary Samson Asaki Awingobit said in a statement dated 19 October 2026 that urgent ministerial intervention was needed to establish accountability and secure practical solutions. The Association warned that delays in shipping invoices, payment processing and container releases are increasing demurrage, rent and storage costs for businesses, potentially undermining Ghana’s trade efficiency and supply‑chain reliability.
The proposed meeting would bring together the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), shipping lines, terminal operators, clearing and forwarding agents, and other industry stakeholders. IEAG wants the meeting to identify the causes of the delays, determine responsibility for operational failures and set firm deadlines for resolving them.
IEAG also highlighted disruptions at Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3, where more than 120 trucks were reportedly delayed, potentially prolonging truck turnaround times and creating further bottlenecks across the logistics chain. The Association has called for a transparent investigation into the cause of the disruption and the basis for any charges imposed.
In addition, IEAG expressed concern over reports of a confrontation at the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) office at Tema Port, alleging an assault. The Association condemned violence and called for an impartial investigation and appropriate action against anyone found culpable.
IEAG is demanding a review and stricter enforcement of Service Level Agreements governing shipping‑line services, terminal operations, invoicing, payment processing, container releases and cargo transfers. It wants agreements to specify measurable performance standards, clear responsibilities, complaint escalation procedures and remedies for service failures.
“Accountability in the maritime sector must be reciprocal,” the statement said. IEAG insists that the proposed emergency meeting must produce clear decisions, assigned responsibilities, implementation deadlines and a mechanism to monitor progress. It maintains that resolving the challenges is essential to improving port efficiency, containing avoidable business costs and protecting Ghana’s competitiveness as a regional trading hub.
