Importers and agents at the Tema Port in the Greater Accra Region are sounding the alarm over persistent delays in the clearing of goods, warning that the situation is putting their businesses at serious risk.

They say the mounting demurrage charges — fees for failing to move containers within the allotted time — are severely eroding their profits.

Despite repeated complaints to port authorities, the importers claim no effective measures have been taken to address the ongoing challenges.

Speaking to Accra 100.5 FM's Rebecca Lartey, Mr. Jones Oteng Duodu, an executive member of the Korean Importers Association, revealed that demurrage charges can climb as high as $20 per container per day.

These costs accumulate rapidly with each day of delay, eating into already thin profit margins and threatening the survival of many businesses.

“All efforts to seek redress from the relevant authorities have so far yielded no results,” Mr. Duodu lamented.

He stressed that the financial strain and operational uncertainty are leaving importers deeply concerned about the future of their enterprises.

The importers are calling for urgent interventions to streamline operations at the port and alleviate the heavy financial burdens they are facing.