Importers and Exporters protest over ‘exploitation’ at Tema Port

Ghanaian Importers and Exporters took to the streets on September 24 to protest against shipping lines over what they termed ‘exploitation’ at the Tema port.

They said the ‘exploitation’ is having a toll on their businesses and affecting their cost of living.

They gave managers of the shipping lines a fourteen-day ultimatum to stop, what they claimed are unfair business practices and imposition of illegitimate fees.

After a peaceful protest, members of the Association in a press conference said they will resort to various means until their issues are addressed.

The protesters tabled their concerns in a petition after moving round the various offices of the shipping lines and presented to it to the leadership of the shipping lines.

They said they have had enough and time to act is now, they claim the unrealistic charges yearly is amounted to 1.5 million dollars which are unofficially recorded.

The charges they tabled include; arbitrary weekends and holiday demurrage charges, delays in refund, blocking of agents, among others.

As some owners of shipping lines welcomed the protesters, others were not receptive towards them. They closed their main entrance with private security men blocking access with the inscription “The office has been close for today.”

Some of the shipping lines that received the petition from protesters are Mediterranean Shipping Company Limited and Intermodal Shipping Agencies Limited.

Addressing journalists that covered the event, the former President of Institute of Freight Forwarder (GIFF), Kwabena Ofosu Asare said they have written several letters to all the governmental agencies in charge of trade, including Ghana Shippers Authority but to no avail.

“This is the first step, but the next action will not be pleasant,” he said.

He indicated that the Associations has suffered the unfair practices for long and they will not allow any shipping line to destroy their business.

The General Secretary, Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, Samuel Aggrey, said the unstable prices of goods and commodities in the market is a result of the unfair trade practices.

He indicated the fight is not for an individual and the need for all to rise and fight for these unrealistic charges to stop.

 

By Kingsley Adusei Amakye