Freight Forwarders Declare Nationwide Sit-Down Strike Over Rising Port Charges
The leadership of freight forwarding and trader associations in Ghana has announced a nationwide sit-down strike set to commence from Tuesday, April 14 to Friday, April 17, 2026, in protest against escalating clearing costs and what they describe as excessive charges at the country’s ports.
The decision was jointly taken by the Council of Freight Forwarders Associations, comprising the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), the Association of Customs House Agents Ghana (ACHAG), the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana (FFAG), and the Customs Brokers Association Ghana (CUBAG), alongside key trader groups including the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) and the Trade Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG).
As part of the build-up to the industrial action, a general durbar for managers and staff of freight forwarding companies was scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2026, across all districts nationwide. The national durbar is being held at the GIFF National Secretariat in Tema, serving as a platform for final deliberations, a question-and-answer session, and alignment on the modalities and roadmap for the strike.
Addressing the media in Takoradi, the Takoradi District Chairman of GIFF, Mr. Paul Ato Bentil, together with members, expressed deep concern over the rising cost of clearing goods, particularly at the Port of Takoradi. According to him, the situation has reached alarming levels, with multiple charges, duties, and taxes placing an unbearable burden on importers.
“In recent times, the cost associated with clearing goods has escalated to alarming levels. The multiplicity of charges imposed on our clients has become not only onerous but, in many instances, excessively punitive for no offence committed,” he stated.
Mr. Bentil noted that the impact of these charges has left many importers unable to clear their goods, resulting in a growing backlog of consignments at the ports. He warned that this trend poses serious risks to businesses and the national economy.
“When goods remain uncleared, trade is impeded, financial losses accumulate, and confidence in our port system steadily erodes,” he added.
The associations are calling on relevant authorities to urgently review and rationalize port charges. They are also advocating for greater transparency in the calculation of duties and taxes, as well as alignment with international best practices, particularly under the World Customs Organization (WCO) framework and the provisions of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891), specifically Sections 67 and 68.
Additionally, they urged authorities to ensure that emerging systems such as the Publican AI platform are implemented in a manner that promotes fairness and efficiency within the trade ecosystem.
The leadership emphasized that the clearing and forwarding sector remains a critical partner to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and plays a vital role in national development, rather than serving as a bottleneck in the trade chain.
“We do not stand here merely to lament, but to advocate for constructive action. There is a pressing need to recalibrate duties and taxes and implement pragmatic solutions that facilitate trade and restore confidence,” Mr. Bentil stressed.
Trader associations are also expected to issue official press statements in support of the strike action.
With tensions rising across the sector, stakeholders are hopeful that the four-day sit-down strike will prompt swift government intervention and pave the way for reforms that will ease the burden on importers and restore efficiency at Ghana’s ports.
The leadership concluded with a call for unity among members and reiterated their commitment to pushing for a fair, transparent, and business-friendly port system.
