The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has warned that Ghana could lose a growing number of importers to the Port of Abidjan if government fails to urgently address mounting delays, congestion and rising operational costs at the country’s ports.

The Association says it is already receiving indications that some importers are considering routing their cargo through Côte d’Ivoire because of what it describes as delays and uncertainty in clearing goods through Ghanaian ports.

IEAG Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingboit, speaking at a press conference on September 14, 2026, said the development should be a major concern for the government, particularly ahead of the December peak trading season.

“Once an importer establishes a reliable alternative supply chain through another regional gateway, winning that business back becomes extremely difficult,” he cautioned.

The Association is therefore calling for an emergency intervention led by the Chief of Staff, involving the Ministers of Finance, Transport and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, together with the relevant port and regulatory agencies.

He stated that the congestion is not the result of a single problem but a combination of customs valuation and examination procedures, regulatory inspections and charges, terminal operations, truck turnaround times and poor coordination among agencies.

One of the Association’s major concerns is the reported high number of containers being subjected to physical and intrusive examination.

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According to him, preliminary information indicates that about 74 percent of containers being scanned are routed to the red channel for physical examination.

The Association stresses that the figure has not been independently verified but believes it warrants an immediate review of Customs’ risk-profiling system.

“A risk-management system that routinely channels an exceptionally high proportion of cargo into intrusive examination risks becoming a congestion-generating mechanism rather than a trade-facilitation mechanism.”

IEAG is calling for an analysis of the green, yellow and red-channel consignments to establish how many red-routed containers actually result in discrepancies, revenue recovery or enforcement action.

The Association also says the breakdown of coordinated inspections among government agencies is worsening the situation.

According to IEAG, some agencies allegedly fail to participate in the initial inspection of containers and only become involved after Customs has completed its examination.

This, it says, can result in containers being dropped again for separate inspections, leading to additional truck movements, handling costs and longer dwell times.

IEAG has also raised allegations that some operators are being asked to make unofficial payments of up to GH¢1,000 to avoid additional inspections.

The Association emphasises that the allegations require independent investigation.

IEAG is further raising concerns about what it describes as significant increases in regulatory, inspection, certification and processing fees imposed by agencies operating at the ports.

The Association mentioned the Ghana Standards Authority, Food and Drugs Authority and Environmental Protection Agency.

It says the cumulative effect of these charges, together with the administrative processes involved, is increasing the time and cost required to clear cargo.

According to IEAG, importers and customs house agents are spending considerable time contesting assessments, resolving disputed charges and waiting for regulatory approvals.

The resulting delays, it says, contribute to demurrage, storage charges, container detention and higher logistics costs.

The Association also wants government to investigate prolonged truck turnaround times at some terminals.

IEAG says transport operators have reported that some truck drivers are reluctant to undertake jobs involving particular shipping-line terminals, including MSC-operated container handling facilities, because of excessive waiting times.

“A truck that spends several hours waiting to load or exit a terminal cannot efficiently serve other importers."

AM

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