Accra: The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has issued a stark warning that Ghana risks losing a significant number of importers to the Port of Abidjan if the government does not take immediate action to address the increasing delays, congestion, and rising operational costs at the nation's ports.
According to Ghana Web, the Association has begun to receive signs that some importers are contemplating rerouting their cargo through C´te d'Ivoire due to delays and uncertainties involved in clearing goods through Ghanaian ports. IEAG Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingboit, highlighted this concern during a press conference on September 14, 2026, emphasizing the urgency of the matter, especially with the December peak trading season approaching. He warned that once importers establish a reliable alternative supply chain, it becomes extremely challenging to regain their business.
The Association is urging an emergency intervention led by the Chief of Staff, involving key government officials, including the Ministers of Finance, Transport and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, along with relevant port and regulatory agencies. Awingboit pointed out that the congestion is caused by a variety of issues, including customs valuation and examination procedures, regulatory inspections and charges, terminal operations, truck turnaround times, and poor inter-agency coordination.
One of the pressing concerns for the Association is the excessive number of containers undergoing physical and intrusive examination. Preliminary data suggests that approximately 74 percent of scanned containers are directed to the red channel for such examinations. Although this figure has not been independently verified, IEAG believes it necessitates an immediate review of Customs' risk-profiling system. The Association warns that a system that sends a high proportion of cargo for intrusive examination could exacerbate congestion rather than facilitate trade.
The IEAG is also calling for an analysis of the consignments channeled through the green, yellow, and red routes to determine how many red-routed containers actually result in discrepancies, revenue recovery, or enforcement action. The breakdown of coordinated inspections among government agencies is compounding the issue, with some agencies reportedly failing to participate in initial inspections and only intervening after Customs completes its examination. This leads to additional inspections, more truck movements, higher handling costs, and longer dwell times.
Furthermore, IEAG has raised allegations of unofficial payments, reportedly up to GHS1,000, being demanded to avoid additional inspections. The Association insists these claims require independent investigation. Additionally, IEAG is concerned about significant increases in regulatory, inspection, certification, and processing fees imposed by agencies such as the Ghana Standards Authority, Food and Drugs Authority, and Environmental Protection Agency. These charges, combined with complex administrative processes, are significantly increasing the time and cost needed to clear cargo.
IEAG has also highlighted the need for the government to investigate prolonged truck turnaround times at some terminals. Reports from transport operators indicate reluctance among some truck drivers to work with specific shipping-line terminals, including MSC-operated facilities, due to excessive waiting times. "A truck that spends several hours waiting to load or exit a terminal cannot efficiently serve other importers," the Association noted.