Lockdown: Ministry of Transport suspends all demurrage and rent charges on cargo

The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Transport has issued a directive to suspend all accumulated demurrages and rent charges on cargo during the mandatory lockdown restriction that was imposed on residence in the greater Accra, Greater Kumasi and Kasua.

According to the Ministry, the suspension of all applicable charges on cargo which have remained not cleared since the lockdown came into effect on 30th march, 2020.

This directive, the Minister said, is to ensure that shippers and other stakeholders do not take any actions that may disrupt the government of Ghana’s efforts in curbing the spread of the virus, on the basis of averting the accumulation of the cost of clearance of their cargo.

This directive comes swiftly after the Ghana Union of Traders Association, GUTA, in a press release dated, 16^th April, 2020 called on government to compel the shipping lines and Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, GPHA, to waive demurrage and rent charges on cargo respectively during the lockdown period, since the movement of shippers in their bid to clear goods may compromise the needed impact in the fight to curb the spread of the virus.

The sector Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, in a letter to the Ghana Shippers Authority, emphasized the need for the authority to communicate the directive to all stakeholders and ensure it full implementation.