President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, and the Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, to immediately review all fees charged by shipping companies operating in Ghana, stressing that such fees must be approved by Parliament.

Delivering a speech on Friday, July 11, 2025, President Mahama underscored that any charges imposed without parliamentary approval are unlawful and unjustifiable.

This directive comes in response to concerns raised by freight forwarders during a recent meeting with the President. They complained that some shipping lines are applying unapproved administrative fees, which drive up operational costs and hinder efforts to maximize revenue at the country’s ports.

“We have tasked the Minister for Transport to investigate this matter thoroughly, engage directly with the shipping companies involved, and assess the legitimacy of these administrative charges,” the President stated.

He further emphasized the legal requirement for all fees and levies to be ratified by Parliament.

“The law is clear—no entity is permitted to impose any fee or levy within the jurisdiction of Ghana without the explicit endorsement of Parliament. After consultation with the Attorney General, we reaffirmed that such charges are invalid unless approved by the legislative body,” President Mahama was quoted as saying by Citi Newsroom.