The Joint Consultative Business Forum (JCBF) has declared strong support for the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), insisting that shipping lines operating in Ghana must not be allowed to short-change Ghanaians through excessive charges.

The coalition which includes the Ghana Union of Traders' Associations (GUTA), Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Traders Advocacy Group (TAG), Chamber of Used Car Dealers Association of Ghana (CADEG), Ashanti Business Association (ABOA), among others made the call at a press conference in Accra on May 21, 2026.

It comes after reported legal action by some shipping lines seeking an injunction against the Ghana Shippers’ Authority over its regulatory interventions, alongside an interim charge of GH₵720.00 pending further stakeholder engagement.

The JCBF described the development as “unfortunate and inconsistent with the broader national interest of promoting fairness, transparency, and competitiveness within Ghana's trading environment.”

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According to the Forum, for several years businesses in Ghana have faced heavy financial burdens from shipping and port-related charges, which it said have contributed directly to rising costs in imports, manufacturing, distribution, and consumer prices.

At a time when businesses are already grappling with “inflationary pressures, exchange rate instability, rising operational costs, and unfair competition,” the Forum said the protection of legitimate businesses must remain a national priority.

The coalition stated that the Ghana Shippers’ Authority has acted within its statutory mandate under Act 1122 (2024) to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness within the shipping industry.

It further warned that attempts to obstruct reforms through injunctions and prolonged legal battles undermine efforts to improve the ease of doing business and weaken confidence in regulatory institutions.

Reaffirming its position, the Forum stated that “the Ghana Shippers’ Authority must be allowed to fully exercise its lawful regulatory authority without interference or intimidation.”

It added that “shipping service charges and administrative fees must be transparent, reasonable, and subjected to proper stakeholder engagement,” stressing that it believes such engagement has already taken place.

The JCBF further maintained that “Ghanaian businesses and consumers deserve protection from exploitative and arbitrary charges that negatively impact the economy.”

It also called on government to continue supporting regulatory reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business at Ghana’s ports and improving national competitiveness.

“The Joint Consultative Business Forum calls on government, Parliament, organised labour, civil society organisations, and the entire business community to support the Ghana Shippers’ Authority in its ongoing efforts to restore fairness and sanity within the shipping and logistics sector.”

MA