The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has warned that persistent delays in clearing bulk and bagged goods at the Tema Port could compel importers to reroute cargo to Lomé, heightening risks of smuggling and revenue losses.
In a statement dated December 29, the Association said the disruption is already straining supply chains and driving up costs across the food and beverage industry.
“The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) urgently wishes to draw the attention of the Director General and Management of the Tema port, the Minister of Transport and the general public to the growing concern among its members regarding significant delays in the offloading and clearance of bulk and bagged goods at the Tema Port,” the Association said.
FABAG attributed the delays to a shortage of casual labour needed to discharge cargo. It explained that workers “have been on strike for some time following disagreements with Tema Port management over compensation rates.”
The Association noted that the port’s response has been inadequate. “In response, the port management has engaged temporary unskilled labour,” the statement said, adding that these workers can offload “only about 200 metric tonnes per day, far below the usual operational level of a minimum 2000 metric tonnes a day.”
This reduced capacity, FABAG said, has prolonged vessel stays and triggered rising demurrage charges. “This reduced offloading rate has caused prolonged delays in clearing goods, resulting in high demurrage charges for importers,” the Association stated.
The group cautioned that the mounting costs could ripple through the wider economy. “Some members of FABAG are therefore facing increased operational costs, which could have downstream effects on prices and availability of food and beverage products, especially rice and sugar, in the market,” it said.
FABAG further warned that unresolved delays may push importers to seek alternatives outside Ghana. “The Food and Beverages Association is particularly concerned that if this situation is not quickly and effectively resolved, some importers may be forced to divert their goods to the Lome Port in Togo,” the statement said.
Such diversions, it added, could undermine border controls and encourage illegal activity. “This could encourage attempts to smuggle goods back into the country, potentially leading to massive losses in government revenue and undermining trade regulations,” FABAG cautioned.
The Association is urging swift action to end the standoff. “We are calling on the Director General of the Tema Port, the Tema Port Management, relevant authorities and labour representatives to urgently engage in dialogue to resolve this dispute,” it said.
FABAG stressed that “a swift and sustainable resolution is necessary to restore efficient port operations, reduce unnecessary financial burdens, and ensure the smooth flow of food and beverage supplies to the Ghanaian market.”
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