By Importers and freight forwarders at the Tema port are urging the Ghana Shippers Authority to ensure that shipping lines refrain from imposing additional charges for demurrage, rent, and storage due to delays resulting from the widespread internet disruption in the country.
The extensive disruption in internet services nationwide since last week has significantly hindered cargo clearance at Ghana’s largest seaport, resulting in demurrage fees.
Paulina Abrokwah, Co-chairperson of the Technical Committee of the Tema District of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), elaborated on the extent of the impact on the cost of conducting business at the port.
“We’re hoping that with the situation at least some of the service providers like the shipping lines and terminals will be considerate and waive the extra cost related to any delay that will occur.
“We are hoping that the Ghana Shippers Authority will take the lead in this and ensure that traders or importers don’t have to suffer to pay demorages as a result of this general internet outage,” she explained.
She informed JoyNews that they anticipate the intervention of the Ghana Shippers Authority to prevent shipping lines from exploiting the situation to levy additional charges for delays caused by the internet disruption.
“One area that area that was really bad was the banks. They were unable to pay duty, at least, as of Friday. Once you’re not able to pay, you cannot continue with the rest of the processes,” she said.
The National Communication Authority (NCA) projects that it might require at least five weeks to repair the defective undersea cables and restore stable connections in the affected countries.
In response, Samson Azaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, emphasized the urgency for the Economic Management Team (EMT) to swiftly devise a contingency plan (Plan B) to prevent hardships for importers.
