Freight Forwarders threaten demo over continued demurrage, rent charges at ports

The Minister had directed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to suspend all applicable charges such as demurrage or detention and storage rent charges on all cargo that had remained uncleared since the partial lockdown came into effect on 30th March 2020.

In a letter to the Ghana Shippers Authority, the Minister had explained that this is to ensure that shippers and other stakeholders do not take actions that may thwart government’s efforts at stemming the spread of the virus on the basis of preventing the accumulation of costs in the clearance of their cargoes.

Halt demurrage and rent charges

The Minister’s directive was given after the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), had petitioned the government to compel the GPHA and the shipping lines to refrain from claiming demurrage and rent charges on cargo at the country’s ports during the period of the partial lock-down.

They said, “It is very sad that while most of our members cannot move out freely because they are all adhering to the restrictions announced by government, the shipping lines are asking that since they are still working, our members whose goods have arrived at the ports should clear them or pay demurrage if the containers continue to remain at the ports during this lockdown period,” the statement noted.

GUTA subsequently commended government, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Trade and Industry after their demands were met.