FABAG Warns Tema Port Delays Could Disrupt Food Supply, Raise Prices
The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has warned that delays at the country’s main port in Tema could disrupt food supplies and push up prices for consumers.
In a statement issued on 29 December, the association said shipments of bulk and bagged goods are taking much longer than usual to be offloaded and cleared, largely because of a labour shortage at the port.
Workers who typically handle offloading have been on strike following a dispute with port authorities over pay, FABAG said. Although temporary workers have been brought in, the association claims they can handle only a fraction of the usual workload – about 200 tonnes a day compared with a normal minimum of 2,000 tonnes.
Importers are now facing longer delays and rising demurrage charges, costs that FABAG says could be passed on to consumers. Staple products such as rice and sugar could be particularly affected if the situation continues.
The group also warned that some businesses may divert shipments to neighbouring Togo, using the port of Lomé instead. That, it said, could increase the risk of goods being smuggled back into Ghana, potentially depriving the government of revenue.
FABAG has called on port managers, labour leaders and government officials to hold urgent talks to resolve the dispute. It says a quick and lasting solution is needed to restore normal operations at Tema Port and to protect the steady supply of food and beverages across the country.
