The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called for an emergency meeting with Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, warning that persistent delays at the Tema Port are increasing business costs and disrupting the movement of goods.

The Association said delays in issuing shipping invoices, processing payments and releasing containers were leaving businesses with mounting demurrage, rent and storage charges.

In a statement released on October 19, 2026, IEAG mentioned that some importers and exporters could not clear their cargo despite completing all required payments and documentation.

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IEAG wants the Finance Minister to bring shipping lines, port authorities, terminal operators and clearing agents together to identify the causes and agree on immediate solutions.

“The matter therefore requires urgent ministerial attention and coordinated intervention rather than routine stakeholder engagements that do not produce measurable results,” the statement said.

The Association stated that the meeting must assign responsibility for service failures and set clear deadlines for resolving them.

It also demanded firm commitments on invoicing, payment processing, container releases and complaints, stressing that businesses should not pay unjustified charges for delays they did not cause.

IEAG acknowledged that demurrage, rent and storage charges serve legitimate purposes but said they must comply with approved tariffs and the law.

The Association also raised concerns over reports that more than 120 trucks scheduled to transfer containers at Meridian Port Services Terminal 3 had been delayed.

IEAG said the reports had not been independently verified and called for an investigation into the causes and any additional charges imposed.

The Association separately condemned a reported confrontation involving an alleged assault at the Mediterranean Shipping Company office at Tema Port. It called for an impartial investigation and appropriate sanctions against anyone found responsible.


“Accountability in the maritime sector must be reciprocal,” the statement said.

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The Association warned that unresolved delays and rising charges could weaken supply chains and damage Ghana’s position as a regional trading hub.


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