They include the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce (GNCC), Ghana Chamber of Mines, Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) and the Greater Accra Regional Shippers Committee (GARSC).
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Shipping lines ignore directive to suspend Terminal Handling Charges
A coalition of business representing a critical mass of shippers and traders in the country had raised issues with the THC, petitioning the ministry to prevent the implementation of new tariffs.
Shipping lines such as Pacific International Line (PIL), Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), CMA CGM, Arkas Lines and UASC want to impose an average $150 as a Terminal Handling Charge for 20-footer container and $265 for a 40-footer.
The Ministry ordered the suspension of the THC last week after a meeting with ship owners and agent association.
In a petition to the ministry, the coalition said the "THC would cost the already burdened Ghanaian shippers over $78 million per year and, knowing the history of these local charges, this figure will definitely increase astronomically."
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The ministry further directed the Maritime Authority to constitute a committee to investigate the issue.
Sampson Asaki Awingobite, Chief Executive of Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, confirmed the development in a media interview.
He told Citi FM “we are very much surprised that some shipping line companies were still collecting fees of the THC.”
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He said the minister was “very straight forward” about the suspension of the THC in a meeting with stakeholders and government agencies.
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