Persistent delays in the evacuation of containers from the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3 to Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in Tema have sparked fierce outcry from shippers, who warn that the bottlenecks are strangling supply chains, inflating operational costs, and eroding the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses.
The grievances took center stage at the Second Quarter Brokers and Trade Associations’ Shipper Committee meeting, convened by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) in Accra. The forum, which brought together representatives from the aviation, maritime, logistics, standards, and communications sectors, provided a rare platform for importers and exporters to directly confront regulators and service providers over the operational paralysis gripping the country’s primary port.
A Costly Gridlock
At the heart of the shippers’ frustration is the excruciatingly slow transfer of cargo from MPS Terminal 3—the port’s state-of-the-art flagship facility—to satellite ICDs such as the Golden Jubilee Terminal (GJT). Instead of being positioned at these depots within the stipulated free storage period for consignees to clear and collect their goods, containers are reportedly languishing at Terminal 3 for weeks on end.
Stakeholders lamented that this logistical paralysis leaves cargo effectively “hostage,” forcing importers to incur crippling rent, demurrage, and time-related penalties—charges that continue to accumulate even after importers have fulfilled all statutory customs requirements. These unexpected expenses, shippers argued, are entirely beyond their control and are ultimately passed down to consumers, contributing to inflationary pressures on essential goods.
“The delays have turned a routine clearance process into a financial minefield,” one importer noted. “We are being penalized for a failure in the system, not our own compliance.”
Ripple Effects on National Competitiveness
Beyond the immediate financial hit, the shippers stressed that the prolonged clearance periods are disrupting just-in-time supply chains, forcing manufacturers to halt production lines and retailers to face empty shelves. This operational inefficiency undermines Ghana’s standing as a preferred West African trade hub, especially as regional rivals like Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria invest aggressively in port modernization.
The stakeholders pressed regulators for practical timelines and clearer coordination among all service providers—from terminal operators and customs officials to transport unions—to break the logjam. They urged the institutions to adopt a holistic, synchronized approach rather than operating in silos, which they argued exacerbates the congestion.
A History of Bottlenecks
The current crisis is not new. MPS Terminal 3, which was commissioned in 2020 as a major upgrade to double the port’s capacity, has repeatedly struggled with pre-berthing delays and inland evacuation bottlenecks. Industry analysts attribute the latest gridlock to a combination of factors: insufficient trucking fleets to haul cargo, inadequate rail connectivity from the port to the ICDs, and a backlog of customs inspections that bottleneck the system. The ICDs themselves, while designed to decongest the port, often lack the yard space and handling equipment to absorb incoming volumes swiftly.
GSA Pledges Facilitation, But Infrastructure Remains the Hurdle
Despite the grim picture, shippers welcomed the GSA’s effort to convene the quarterly meeting, describing it as a vital channel to engage directly with the institutions whose decisions dictate the cost and speed of trade.
The Head of the Shipper Services and Trade Department at the GSA, Monica Josiah, who represented the CEO, acknowledged the gravity of the complaints and reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to practical trade facilitation measures. She assured participants that shipper registrations would remain valid for a 12-month period before renewal is required—a move intended to ease administrative burdens and enable smoother use of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) platform.
Mrs. Josiah encouraged all importers, exporters, and industry players who had not yet registered with the Authority to do so, emphasizing the protections and services available under the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122).
A Call for Systemic Reform
While the GSA’s assurances were welcomed, industry experts warn that registration relief is merely a stopgap. The underlying infrastructure deficits—specifically the lack of a dedicated rail corridor from Tema port to the ICDs and the chronic shortage of haulage trucks—require urgent government and private-sector investment.
As the meeting concluded, there was a palpable sense of cautious optimism. The unified platform has given shippers a louder voice, but the true test will be whether regulators and terminal operators can convert these verbal commitments into tangible reductions in clearance times. For now, the cost of doing business at the Port of Tema remains precariously high, and the clock is ticking on Ghana’s ability to compete in the fiercely contested global maritime trade arena.
