President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, and the Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, to immediately review all fees imposed by shipping companies operating in Ghana and ensure that they receive parliamentary approval.
In a speech delivered on Friday, July 11, President Mahama emphasized that any charges levied without parliamentary approval are illegal and unjustified.
The directive follows a meeting he held with freight forwarders, who raised concerns about certain shipping lines imposing unapproved administrative fees that increase operational costs and undermine revenue optimization at Ghana’s ports.
“We have tasked the Minister of Transport to investigate the matter, engage with the shipping lines, and review those administrative charges.
“The law states that all fees and levies must be ratified by Parliament. Therefore, no entity can impose any fee within the jurisdiction of Ghana without such approval. We consulted the Attorney General, and it is clear that no fee or levy can be charged within Ghana’s territory without parliamentary endorsement,” Citinewsroom.com quotes the president as saying.
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