The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has welcomed a High Court ruling that upheld the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) directive capping Container Administrative Charges at GH₵720 per TEU.
The court on July 11 dismissed an interlocutory injunction filed by the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) and some shipping lines seeking to block the GSA directive issued on 11th May, 2026.
In a statement, IEAG described the ruling as “a significant victory for the rule of law, regulatory certainty, and the thousands of Ghanaian importers, exporters and businesses” who have paid “excessive and unjustified” container charges for years.
According to IEAG, the GSA introduced the GH₵720 per TEU cap as an interim measure after extensive stakeholder engagements to provide immediate relief and curb inflationary pressures.
The Association accused some shipping lines of ignoring the directive and continuing to charge higher fees while the case was in court.“Now that the High Court has confirmed the validity of the directive, there can no longer be any justification for any shipping line to continue charging beyond the approved regulatory cap,” the statement said.
IEAG, therefore, called on the GSA to “immediately commence strict enforcement” of the directive. It also urged the Authority to order all shipping lines and agents who collected above GH₵720 per TEU from 11th May 2026 to refund the excess to affected shippers. Where necessary, IEAG said the excess should be paid into a GSA-designated account for verification and reimbursement.
The Association further asked the GSA to invoke all enforcement powers under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122) against violators. It also appealed to the Ministry of Transport to give the GSA the needed institutional and legal support to regulate the sector.IEAG said the ruling should be a “turning point in strengthening regulatory compliance” in Ghana’s shipping industry and pledged to work with the GSA to promote a fair and competitive logistics environment.
