Mahama Orders Crackdown on Unapproved Shipping Fees to Protect Port Revenue

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a firm directive to halt what he describes as illegal shipping charges undermining Ghana’s port revenue optimisation.

Addressing freight forwarders on Friday, July 11, President Mahama instructed the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, and the Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, to immediately review all fees imposed by shipping companies operating in Ghana to ensure strict parliamentary approval.

“We have tasked the Minister of Transport to investigate the matter, engage with the shipping lines, and review those administrative charges,” the president announced.

Freight forwarders had raised concerns that certain shipping lines are imposing unapproved administrative fees, a practice they argue inflates operational costs and threatens competitiveness at Ghana’s ports.

“The law states that all fees and levies must be ratified by Parliament. Therefore, no entity can impose any fee within the jurisdiction of Ghana without such approval,” Mahama emphasised, adding, “We consulted the Attorney General, and it is clear that no fee or levy can be charged within Ghana’s territory without parliamentary endorsement.”

The president’s move signals renewed government resolve to sanitise port charges and align them with regulatory compliance to protect businesses and Ghana’s broader maritime trade competitiveness.

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