Strike at ports remains in full force – Freight forwarders

Freight forwarders and clearing agents have insisted that their ongoing strike action at Ghana’s ports over the introduction of the Publican AI system remains in full force, dismissing reports suggesting that the industrial action has been suspended.

The strike, which began on Monday, April 13, 2026, has seen operators cease payment of duties and withdraw services, disrupting port operations.

The Ghana Shippers’ Authority had earlier stated that the Ghana Union of Traders Association had agreed to suspend the full rollout of the planned action following a high-level engagement between stakeholders.

However, in a statement issued by the Joint Business Forum and signed by GUTA President Clement Boateng on Tuesday, April 14, the group described such reports as misleading and urged the public to disregard them.

According to the statement, while the Forum has agreed to suspend any further escalation of actions out of respect for an appeal by the Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, Ransford Gyampo, this does not affect the ongoing freight forwarders’ strike, which will continue until further notice.

“The strike action which commenced on Monday, 13th April, 2026, remains in full force. Freight forwarders and clearing agents have ceased payment of duties and laid down their tools as earlier directed. Operations at the ports remain suspended.

“The Joint Business Forum agreed to suspend further intended line-up actions as part of our roadmap out of respect for Prof. Gyampo. This does not affect the current strike action by the Freight Forwarders and will continue as planned,” the statement said.

The Joint Business Forum, comprising key industry groups including the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, Association of Custom House Agents Ghana, Customs Brokers Association, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, Traders Advocacy Group Ghana, and GUTA, said the decision followed a meeting with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority.

The group cited persistent challenges within the port system, including unpredictable and excessively high duty assessments, prolonged delays in cargo clearance, rising demurrage and rent charges, and the absence of an effective dispute resolution mechanism for valuation concerns.

It said these issues have created an unsustainable business environment for traders across the country.

While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue, the Joint Business Forum noted that it will participate in an emergency meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026.

However, it stressed that the withdrawal of services by freight forwarders and clearing agents will continue until concrete resolutions are reached.

“The Joint Business Forum remains open to dialogue at the emergency meeting slated for Thursday, 16th April, 2026. However, until concrete resolutions are reached, the withdrawal of services by freight forwarders and clearing agents continues,” the statement said.

The Forum urged members, stakeholders, and the general public to note that the strike remains ongoing at the ports.

The Publican AI system, introduced to modernise port operations, has generated intense debate within the shipping and logistics sector. While authorities insist it will improve efficiency, transparency, and reduce delays, its rollout has faced strong resistance from key stakeholders, particularly freight forwarders.

Read the full statement below

PRESS RELEASE 14TH APRIL, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RE: CLARIFICATION ON ONGOING STRIKE ACTION BY FREIGHT
FORWARDERS AND CLEARING AGENTS; STRIKE ACTION REMAINS IN FORCE
AT GHANA’S PORTS
The Joint Business Forum, which comprises of the following Associations; Freight
Forwarders Association of Ghana (FFAG), Association of Custom House Agents Ghana
(ACHAG), Custom Brokers Association (CUBAG), Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders
(GIFF), Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), Traders Advocacy Group
Ghana (TAAG), Concerned Traders and Forwarders, Coaliation of Importer and Exporter,
Freight Forwarders and Traders, Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), wishes
to address misleading information circulating in the public domain following a meeting
held yesterday with Ghana Shippers Authority at the STRIKEinstance of Prof. Gyampo.
While we acknowledge that Prof. Gyampo, on behalf of the Ministers for Transport and
Finance, invited leaders of the Joint Business Forum led by GUTA and appealed for a
suspension of our strike action pending an emergency meeting scheduled for Thursday,
16th April, 2026, the outcome of that discussion must be stated clearly:

The strike action which commenced on Monday, 13th April, 2026, remains in full
force. Freight forwarders and clearing agents have ceased payment of duties and
laid down their tools as earlier directed. Operations at the ports remain
suspended.
The Joint Business Forum agreed to suspend further intended line-up actions as
part of our roadmap out of respect for Prof. Gyampo. This does not affect the
current strike action by the Freight Forwarders and will continue as planned.
Any statement from any quarters suggesting that the strike action has been called
off or suspended is misleading and should be disregarded by the traders,
stakeholders, and the general public.
We reiterate that traders across the country continue to face unpredictable and
excessively high duty assessments, prolonged delays in cargo clearance, mounting
demurrage and rent charges, and the near absence of an effective system for resolving
valuation disputes. These challenges have created an unsustainable business climate.
The Joint Business Forum remains open to dialogue at the emergency meeting slated for
Thursday, 16th April, 2026. However, until concrete resolutions are reached, the
withdrawal of services by freight forwarders and clearing agents continues.
We urge all members, the trading public, and media houses to take note that the strike is
ongoing at the ports.
SIGNED
MR. CLEMENT BOATENG
PRESIDENT (GUTA)
ON BEHALF OF THE JOINT BUSINESS FORUM.