The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called on the Minister for Finance to urgently convene an emergency stakeholder meeting over what it describes as a deepening operational crisis at the Tema Port.
In a press statement issued on October 19, 2026, and signed by its Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, the Association said importers, exporters, clearing agents, freight forwarders and transport operators are facing persistent delays and mounting losses.
According to IEAG, there are serious delays in invoicing, payment processing and container release by shipping lines, coupled with disruptions to container transfer operations at the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3.
“The Association is alarmed by persistent delays in invoicing, payment processing and container release by shipping lines, alongside reported disruptions to container transfer operations at the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3,” the statement said.
It added that “These challenges are imposing avoidable financial costs on businesses, undermining port efficiency, disrupting supply chains and heightening tensions across Ghana’s maritime trade and logistics sector.”
IEAG wants the Finance Minister to bring together the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), shipping lines, terminal operators and other industry players to find immediate solutions.
The meeting, it said, must “establish the causes of the persistent delays, identify parties responsible for the reported operational failures, agree on immediate relief measures for affected businesses and set clear, enforceable timelines for resolving the challenges.”
The Association warned that failure to act could worsen the situation. “The Association warns that continued inaction could deepen the financial burden on businesses, undermine confidence in Ghana’s port system and trigger further confrontations between service providers and port users,” it stated.
On shipping line delays, IEAG said shippers who have met all payment and documentation requirements are still unable to clear their goods, leading to demurrage, rent and storage charges.
“The Association considers it fundamentally unfair for businesses to bear the financial consequences of service failures they neither caused nor control,” it noted.
It also expressed concern over a reported confrontation at the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) office at Tema Port, where an alleged assault occurred.
While condemning violence, the Association said the incident shows the level of frustration among port users. “When importers, clearing agents and other port users face persistent uncertainty over invoices, payment confirmation and cargo release, the resulting financial pressure and frustration can heighten tensions between service providers and their customers,” the statement pointed out. IEAG further cited disruptions at MPS Terminal 3, where over 120 trucks scheduled to transfer containers were reportedly delayed.
“Such disruptions have implications beyond the affected truck operators. They can undermine terminal productivity, prolong truck turnaround times, reduce equipment utilisation, disrupt haulage schedules, increase the cost of container movements and limit the availability of trucks for other cargo operations,” it said.
The Association also called for enforcement of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure accountability on both sides.“Service Level Agreements must not exist merely as contractual formalities. They must establish clear performance standards, measurable turnaround times, defined responsibilities, escalation procedures and appropriate remedies when agreed obligations are not met,” the statement stressed.
IEAG said the Tema Port is a critical gateway for Ghana’s trade and its efficiency affects import costs, export competitiveness and consumer prices.
It urged that the outcome of investigations and corrective measures should be made public. “The message is clear: Ghana’s port users cannot continue to absorb the financial consequences of persistent service delays while the underlying operational failures remain unresolved,” the statement added, insisting that “The time for urgent intervention is now.”
