A coalition of business interests comprising of shippers and traders in Ghana have raised issues with the controversial Terminal Handling Charge, petitioning the ministry to prevent the implementation of new tariffs.
They include the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce (GNCC), Ghana Chamber of Mines, Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) and the Greater Accra Regional Shippers Committee (GARSC).
Shipping lines such as Pacific International Line (PIL), Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), CMA CGM, Arkas Lines and UASC want to impose an average $150 as a Terminal Handling Charge for 20-foot container and $265 for a 40-foot container.
However some shipping lines patronising seaports in Ghana have refused to comply with a directive by the Ministry of Transport to suspend the THC.
The Ministry ordered the suspension of the THC last week after a meeting with ship owners and agent association.
In a petition to the ministry, the coalition said the, "THC would cost the already burdened Ghanaian shippers over $78 million per year and, knowing the history of these local charges, this figure will definitely increase astronomically."
The ministry further directed the agency to constitute a committee to investigate the issue.
Sampson Asaki Awingobite, Chief Executive of Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, confirmed the development in a media interview.
He told the media that, “we are very much surprised that some shipping line companies were still collecting fees of the THC.”
He said the minister was “very straight forward” about the suspension of the THC in a meeting with stakeholders and government agencies.
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