Government has suspended storage rent charges on all uncleared cargo at the country’s seaports.

This follows the restrictions imposed on movement by President Akufo-Addo in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19. The Executive Order prevented the movement of people within areas affected by the lockdown such as Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi.

This move, however, impeded shippers’ ability to clear cargo from ports while "others have also encountered challenges in the process,” according to a statement signed by Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.

As part of measures to augment the impact of this directive on stakeholders in the shipping value chain, the April 17 statement revealed “the suspension of all applicable charges i.e. demurage/detention and storage rent charges on cargo which have remained uncleared since the lockdown took effect on 30^th March, 2020.”

The communique which was addressed to the Ghana Shippers’ Authority further explained that, the directive is to ensure that shippers and other stakeholders do not take action that may “jeopardise government’s efforts at curbing the spread of the virus on the basis of averting the accumulation of cost in the clearance of their damages.”

The Ministry, however, stressed that the ports are still open for business while highlighting the need to inculcate all safety measures as advised by health experts as efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic continues.

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The country’s novel coronavirus case count currently stands at 1,042.

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo on April 19, lifted the restrictions imposed on the movement of persons in Accra, Tema, Kasoa, and Kumasi as part of efforts to control the spread of the virus.

According to the President, the three-week lockdown has achieved its objectives, among which was the need to scale up tracing and testing people who may have come into contact with those who had already tested positive.