The Ghana Shippers’ Authority says the processes for removing demurrage and rent charges on goods that were at the ports during the partial lockdown period is still ongoing.
The assurance follows a directive from the Ministry of Transport to Shipping lines to waive all demurrage and rent charges imposed on goods within the partial locked down period.
The Concerned Freight Forwarders and Traders Association has already threatened to embark on a massive demonstration at the Tema Port to protest against the failure of shipping lines to heed to the directive.
But speaking to Citi Business News, the Head of Freight and Logistics at the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Fred Assiedu Dartey, said the delay is due to ongoing meetings with relevant stakeholders on how to implement the directive.
“The delay in the implementation was as a result of them escalating the matter to their principal. They are clarifying some of the issues and thankfully by Friday the issues should have been dealt with. The Ghana Shippers’ Authority has issued a fresh letter to the shipping agencies and I have indicated to you that in response to that Maersk Ghana Limited has issued a customer advisory to all their clients indicating that everything is set for this to apply. So, I’m sure that if you were to speak to a client who was clearing his goods from Maersk Line, they wouldn’t give you any negative feedback,” he said.
Halt demurrage and rent charges at the ports
Earlier this month, the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), petitioned government to compel the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the shipping lines to refrain from claiming ‘demurrage and rent charges’ on cargo at the country’s ports during the period of the partial lock-down amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.