Freight Forwarders have sent a strong signal to the Ghana Shippers Authority, threatening legal action to compel the shipping lines to drop the increase port charges on cargo.

According to the Concern Freight Forwarders Association, the intended increment by the shipping lines is unlawful and therefore must be withdrawn.

Chairman of the Association, Oheneba Kwasi Afamoah addressing a press conference in Tema hinted that it will be compelled to go the legal way if the directive to the shipping lines are not adhered to.

“The Ghana Shippers Authority Regulations are clear on matters of charges and fees at the port and like we have said in several engagements, we are reliably informed that the Ghana Shippers Authority has notified them of the necessary rules that apply and we hope they will obey, else we shall for the first time go to court to compel them to withdraw” he said.

The Chairman also believes that the increment has no basis since the shipping lines have been making profits in the last couple of months during the covid 19 outbreak.

“We have absolutely no doubts in our minds that the so called increment in P.A.S by the shipping lines has NO LEGAL BACKING   has no AUTHORISATION and therefore should be disregarded”.

“We are calling on the Shippers Authority to do the needful by applying the necessary provisions in its regulations which states as per Clause 11”, Mr. Afamoah said.