• About Us
  • Contact Us
Account
GTB
  • Home
  • News
  • Premium
  • Business
  • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Retail/Fashion
  • Podcast
    • Business Chat
    • Retiring Richly
    • Sika Nkommo
  • Videos
  • Analysis/Features
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Premium
  • Business
  • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Retail/Fashion
  • Podcast
    • Business Chat
    • Retiring Richly
    • Sika Nkommo
  • Videos
  • Analysis/Features
No Result
View All Result
Account
Ghana Talks Business
No Result
View All Result

Demurrage and rent charges suspended, as Ghana’s Gov’t heed to importers’ cry

20/04/2020
Reading Time: 3 mins read
demurrage and rent charges

Minister of Transport, , Kwaku Ofori-Asiamah

405
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori-Asiamah, has directed the Ghana Shippers’ Authority to suspend demurrage and rent charges on all cargo that have remained uncleared at the Ghana’s ports since the announcement of the partial lockdown in part of the country.

Mr Ofori-Asiamah, said the decision is to ensure that certain actions are not taken to undermine the efforts of government’s effort to contain. the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic on the basis of going to the port to clear goods in order to prevent accumulation of costs.

The Minister’s directive, which is contained in a letter addressed to the Ghana Shippers Authority, is in response to appeals made to the government in respective of the issue.

Disagreement over GPHA directive

Several weeks ago, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) together with the Shippers Authority issued a directive asking importers and all players within the shipping industry to be present at the ports to clear their goods or pay rent charges on those goods stored at the port warehouse.

This decision, apparently, did not go down well with players inn the industry. They subsequently called on the government to appeal to the GPHA and shipping lines to give unconditional waivers on demurrage and rent charges during the lockdown period.

Also read: Waiver of demurrage and rent charges necessary in Ghana’s ports during lockdown period

In a statement released to the press last week, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) argued that the call on them to come clear their goods or face paying demurrage and rent charges did not make sense because their businesses are shut down due to the lockdown.

“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 GUTA statement read.

Counter directive

But in the letter directed to the Ghana Shippers Authority, the Minister said “the effect of these developments and the far-reaching consequences on the shipping public, may altogether defeat the fight against the COVID-19”.   

He observed that following government’s announcement that all cargoes could move in and out of the country despite the partial lockdown “a number of unintended consequences have resulted from the current state of affairs”.

He adds that “for instance, while some peculiar circumstances have prevented some shippers from clearing their cargo from the ports, others have also encountered some challenges in the process.”

GUTA happy with counter directive

To show their gratitude for the suspension of the demurrage and rent charges, GUTA issued another statement on 19th April, 2020 to commend the government, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Trade and Industry for heeding to their demand.

“It is gratifying that the Minister for Transport has moved swiftly directing the Ghana Shippers Authority to communicate to all relevant stakeholders to suspend all charges i.e. demaurage and rent charges on all cargo that are uncleared during the lock-down period. This will ensure that everyone complies with government directives during this lock-down period,” GUTA said.

This, they added, shows that government is listening to the concerns of the business community and committed to working with the private sector even in these difficult moments.

“It is our hope that all the relevant stakeholders, the Shipping lines and GPHA, will in good faith comply with this directives for sanity to prevail at our various port of entries’, the added.

Previous Post

Covid-19 and The Oil and Gas Industry

Next Post

Crude Oil prices hit $15 for the first time in 21 years

Related Posts

spare-parts dealers

Covid-19: Kokompe spare-parts dealers call for help, say their businesses are collapsing

15/05/2020
Nkosuo program

Stimulus package for Ghana’s SME’s could be more than GH₵600mn – says NBSSI Director

15/05/2020
industrial growth

Ghana needs Strategy to drive Industrial Growth post Covid-19 – AGI to Gov’t

06/05/2020
NBSSI

Four local companies in Ghana to produce PPEs with $10 million Gov’t support

24/04/2020
Ghana's economy

Waiver of demurrage and rent charges necessary in Ghana’s ports during lockdown period

17/04/2020
soft loan scheme

Modalities required for GH₵600m loan scheme for SMEs- Ghana Union of Traders Association

08/04/2020
Next Post
Rise in oil prices, ghanatalksbusiness.com

Crude Oil prices hit $15 for the first time in 21 years

the 2020 budget, ghanatalksbusiness.com

Moody’s review Ghana’s economic outlook to negative, affirms B3 rating

  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Ghana Talks Business

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Premium
  • Business
  • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Retail/Fashion
  • Podcast
    • Business Chat
    • Retiring Richly
    • Sika Nkommo
  • Videos
  • Analysis/Features
  • Login

© 2023 Ghana Talks Business

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In