The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) has called on the government to urgently address prolonged delays in the clearance of cargo at the country’s airports, warning that the situation could undermine the efficiency and competitiveness of Ghana’s logistics sector and is inconsistent with the government’s own 24-hour economy agenda.
President of the Institute, Stephen Adjokatcher, said the delays are particularly concerning for airlines and businesses that depend on the timely clearance of critical equipment and spare parts.
He spoke at the official unveiling of Africa World Airlines’ new Embraer E190 aircraft on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Kotoka International Airport. The new 102-seater aircraft, registered 9G-FDA, is the first of its type to join AWA’s fleet and is expected to expand the airline’s operations and improve connectivity on domestic and regional routes.
‘Why Should It Take Days?’
Mr Adjokatcher said the delays are inconsistent with the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, which seeks to promote round-the-clock economic activity and improve productivity. He questioned why businesses and airlines are sometimes required to wait several days to clear cargo at the airport despite the establishment of customs facilities intended to facilitate faster clearance.
“We don’t understand why there’s a centre brought here by Customs so that aviation is speed, but sometimes people take days before they clear things from the airport here,” he said.
He appealed to the Transport Ministry to engage the Finance Ministry and the relevant agencies to find a lasting solution to the problem. According to him, delays in clearing aircraft parts can disrupt airline operations and affect the broader efficiency of the aviation and logistics sectors.
“I’m happy my Transport Minister is here to address that to the Finance Minister, because it takes days to clear parts from the airport. Why should it be under 24 hours?” he asked.
Mr Adjokatcher also called for the provision of adequate storage facilities at the country’s airports to enable airlines to keep essential spare parts on-site and access them quickly when needed. He said such facilities would help reduce clearance bottlenecks and ensure that critical aircraft components are made available without unnecessary delays.
“[We need] storage facilities at our airports so that airlines can hold the spare parts there so that they can clear on time when they need it immediately,” he added.
A Persistent Challenge
The concerns raised by GIFF are long-standing. The 2013 report by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders highlighted multiple inspections by Customs, the Food and Drugs Authority and other agencies as a major cause of delays. More recently, the Ghana Revenue Authority’s own Time Release Study painted a sobering picture of clearance times at Kotoka International Airport.
According to the study, general imports at KIA are cleared within an average of 7 days and 14 minutes, though exceptional cases reach a maximum of 23 days, 16 hours and 36 minutes. Courier goods demonstrate swifter processes with an average of 5 days, 12 hours and 39 minutes. The average time taken for cargo to be gated-in for Customs and other government agencies’ clearance processing after the aircraft’s arrival is 1 day, 7 hours and 45 minutes.
The GRA study identified delays in customs processes, laborious human interventions and logistics issues as the causes of long clearance times at the country’s four main entry and exit points, including KIA. Freight forwarders have also raised concerns about frequent breakdowns of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), which they say cause 24-hour delays and breed unauthorised fees.
In August 2026, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority met with stakeholders to address air cargo delays at Accra International Airport, discussing issues including delays in import and exemption approvals, cargo scanning, National Security endorsements and payments to ground handling company Swissport.
A Call for Coordinated Action
GIFF’s intervention comes at a time of significant expansion for Africa World Airlines. The new Embraer E190 marks AWA’s first addition of the aircraft type to its fleet, which previously consisted of eight ERJ-145 aircraft. The airline has indicated that the E190 is the first of several aircraft it intends to acquire over the next year as it seeks to expand its operations.
At the unveiling ceremony, Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe joined AWA officials to receive the aircraft and urged domestic airlines to translate recent government measures into more affordable airfares for passengers. He noted that following President Mahama’s announcement that all duties on parts of domestic airlines will now be waived, airlines should ensure the savings reflect on the Ghanaian traveller.
The GACL Managing Director, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, described AWA’s acquisition of the new aircraft as a boost to Ghana’s ambition to become a leading aviation hub in West Africa.
Industry Leadership
Stephen Adjokatcher brings considerable experience to the advocacy. Elected unopposed as GIFF President in May 2026 during the Institute’s Annual General Meeting in Koforidua, he also serves as Vice President of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), a position he was elected to in October 2025.
Under his leadership, GIFF has been instrumental in driving regulatory reforms and the digital transformation of freight forwarding in Ghana. He has also been a vocal advocate on transit trade issues, calling for independent probes into disputes that could undermine Ghana’s competitiveness as a regional trade hub.
The Stakes for Ghana’s Aviation Ambitions
The delays at KIA carry significant implications for Ghana’s broader economic ambitions. Ghana’s aviation sector is a key component of the 24-hour economy policy, with the Ghana Airports Company Limited investing in infrastructure to position KIA for round-the-clock operations. The government has extended operational hours at Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi and Tamale International Airport, and plans are underway to develop Tamale as an air cargo hub to serve northern Ghana and the Sahel.
The government has also established a National Airline Task Force and is investing in airport infrastructure upgrades across the country to support the 24-hour economy policy.
However, if cargo clearance remains a bottleneck, these ambitions could be undermined. As Adjokatcher’s intervention makes clear, the ability to clear essential equipment and spare parts swiftly is not merely a convenience for airlines — it is a foundational requirement for the efficient operation of the aviation sector and the broader logistics ecosystem on which Ghana’s trade competitiveness depends.
The Transport Ministry is yet to publicly respond to GIFF’s appeal, but with the 24-hour economy policy now in effect and the aviation sector expanding, the pressure on the government to address the clearance bottlenecks at KIA is mounting.
