Transit freight forwarders at the Tema Port have staged a protest over what they describe as a unilateral decision by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to move transit containers to Kpone without prior consultation with key stakeholders.
The aggrieved operators say the decision has disrupted their operations and undermined established coordination processes within the port logistics chain.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with port authorities, the President of the Transit Freight Forwarders Association, William Ababio, said stakeholders should have been engaged before any decision of that magnitude was taken.
“Before you take any major decision that would affect us directly or indirectly you have to inform your customers in a respectful manner before you arrive or conclude on whatever decision there is. They did not do that,” he said.
However, Mr. Ababio noted that following the meeting, port officials acknowledged the concerns raised and expressed commitment to improving stakeholder engagement going forward.
“We met with the Director of Ports and the Deputy Terminal Managers and they apologised for not engaging us. They also said they are going to involve the other stakeholders like ICUMS, Customs and the Shipping Lines so that going forward, the containers that are being transported to Kpone, we will all put our hands and heads together and make sure we work in a peaceful environment,” he said.
The development comes amid ongoing efforts to streamline port operations and improve efficiency at Ghana’s key maritime gateways.
