Prices of goods and services in Ghana may soon see a welcome dip, following President John Mahama’s latest directive mandating that all shipping line charges be subjected to parliamentary approval.
The directive, announced during a meeting with the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) at Jubilee House on Friday, is being hailed as a decisive move to improve transparency and reduce the high cost of doing business at Ghanaian ports.
According to the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, the decision is a long-overdue intervention. Executive Secretary Samson Asaki Awingobit expressed optimism that the move could eliminate duplicated and arbitrary fees that have burdened businesses and consumers alike.
“If the government succeeds by getting Parliament to approve these handling charges… the number of duplicated charges will be a thing of the past,” Awingobit told Citi Business News.
“This will boost morale, reduce the cost of doing business at the ports, and ultimately lower market prices for consumers.”
Freight forwarders have repeatedly raised concerns about hidden administrative charges—some in foreign currency—imposed by shipping lines, often without clear justification. President Mahama’s directive aims to bring these charges under regulatory scrutiny, reinforcing accountability in port operations.
“This measure is intended to eliminate unapproved administrative charges imposed by shipping lines and to promote greater transparency,” President Mahama stated during the meeting.
If implemented, industry experts say the policy could bring about more predictable logistics costs, stabilize import-driven inflation, and improve Ghana’s competitiveness as a trade hub in West Africa.
The business community and consumers alike now await Parliament’s response, with hopes high that legislative oversight will lead to real, felt change on the market shelves.
