The Ghana Ports and Habours Authority has described as necessary the recent increase in port charges.

This follows an opposition of the latest increase in port charges by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).

According to the authority, the decision to increase the port tariffs is as a result of a careful evaluation and considerations of various factors impacting the port’s operations.

The authority also mentioned that the rates of increment in this year's tariff adjustment were informed by the outcome of a comparative port tariffs studies conducted in neighbouring Ports of Lome and Abidjan, to ensure that at every given time, Ghana’s ports will remain competitive in terms of price and quality of services.

The statement furthered that the GPHA’s operations like any other business is affected by increases in the price of water, electricity, fuel, machinery and equipment among others.

“GPHA was compelled to implement the revised tariff due to the current global economic challenges including inflation and currency depreciation which have increased our operational cost”, the statement said.

Continuing, the authority said it has had several engagements with the Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA), Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG), Freight Forwarding Associations, Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana prior to the implementation of the new tariffs.

The GPHA also noted that it had invested millions of dollars in upgrading port infrastructure and a well maintained and efficient port system that will contribute to a reduction in the operational costs for businesses, enhance productivity and facilitate smoother trade operations.

Furthermore, the authority posited that the rising concerns from stakeholders cannot force the authority to operate at a loss.

“Our investigation revealed that the decline in cargo volumes cannot be attributed to GPHA's service charges. GPHA's charges as a component of the total cost of cargo clearance in the port is about 6%. We are currently conducting a study on the individual contributors and their share to total cost of cargo clearance in our ports, so that together, we can engage and find possible solutions”, the pointed out..