The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders has taken legal action against the Ship Owners and Agents Association and affiliated shipping agencies over alleged unauthorised charges and rising costs at the ports.Ghanaian culture-inspired products

The Freight Forwarders accuse the shipping agencies of imposing unapproved fees, including container administrative fees, processing fees, evacuation fees, container washing fees and demurrage fees.

In a writ filed on January 20, 2025 and sighted by Citi Business News, the Freight Forwarders argued that, these charges were introduced unlawfully, despite directives from the Ghana Shippers Authority to halt extra port fees.

The Freight Forwarders want the following reliefs:

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A declaration that imposing unapproved fees is illegal.
A declaration that counting weekends and holidays in demurrage calculations is unlawful.
An order for the refund of all monies collected through disputed charges.
Compensation for costs, including legal fees.
Any further relief the court deems appropriate.
The Institute described the legal action as a step to protect customers and enforce compliance with industry regulations.

The case is expected to be heard in court in the coming weeks.