Shippers demand faster container transfers at Tema Port

By Prince Antwi July 2, 2026

Delays in moving containers from the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3 to Inland Container Depots (ICDs) took centre stage at the Second Quarter Bronze and Trade Associations’ Shipper Committee meeting organised by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) in Accra.

Shippers raised concerns that the prolonged transfer of containers from Terminal 3 to inland depots was disrupting business operations, delaying cargo clearance and increasing the cost of doing business at the Port of Tema.

According to a statement issued by the Authority, containers earmarked for Inland Container Depots, including the Golden Jubilee Terminal (GJT), often remain at the MPS Terminal 3 for several weeks before they are transferred. The arrangement is intended to allow importers and their clearing agents to process cargo within the free storage period, but the delays have made that objective difficult to achieve.

The Authority noted that the extended time taken to move, position and make containers available for collection results in importers incurring additional rent, demurrage and other time-related charges.

Shippers explained that many importers complete all statutory clearance requirements on time but still face avoidable costs because the delays occur after the clearance process and are beyond their control.

The statement warned that the continued delays in clearing and evacuating containers were undermining supply chain efficiency, increasing operational expenses and reducing the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses. Stakeholders therefore called for clearer operational timelines and stronger coordination among institutions involved in the port logistics chain.

Despite the concerns, participants commended the Ghana Shippers’ Authority for providing a platform that brings together regulators, service providers and industry stakeholders to discuss and resolve persistent challenges affecting international trade.

The meeting brought together shippers and trade associations with annual import and export volumes below one million dollars, alongside representatives from the aviation, maritime, logistics, standards and communications sectors.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Ransford Edward Gyampo, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to improving trade facilitation through practical reforms.

He announced that registration with the Authority will now remain valid for 12 months before renewal, a move aimed at providing greater certainty and convenience for users while enabling them to maximise the benefits of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and other trade facilitation initiatives.

Prof. Gyampo also encouraged importers, exporters and other stakeholders who are yet to register with the Authority to do so in order to access the protections and services available under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122).

He reiterated the Authority’s commitment to sustained stakeholder engagement and the creation of an enabling business environment that promotes efficient cargo movement and supports international trade.

The meeting also introduced the Ghana EasyPASS initiative, a digital platform designed to simplify regulatory compliance, reduce delays and improve transparency across standards and trade-related processes.