Ghana’s Industrial Sector Faces Dual Crises as Oil Marketers Issue Ultimatum and Tuna Fisheries Collapse

Ghana’s business landscape is currently navigating a period of significant regulatory tension and industrial decline. The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Finance Ministry, demanding the suspension of Section 136 of the revised Customs Act. COMAC warns that the new law shifts enforcement risks and financial liabilities onto operators, potentially disrupting the national fuel supply. Simultaneously, the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) has raised the alarm over the total collapse of the tuna industry’s pole-line sub-sector. Vice Chairman Richster Amarh Amarfio reported that no vessels of this type are currently operational due to skyrocketing fuel costs, heavy taxes, and high port charges, threatening a sector that contributes over $200 million annually in foreign exchange.

In addition to these industrial crises, the transport and retail sectors are facing internal pressures regarding pricing and expansion. In Kumasi, transport unions have petitioned the government to implement price controls on consumer goods, labeling some traders as 'exploitative' for maintaining high prices despite fluctuations in fuel costs. Amidst these calls for tighter regulation, VIP Jeoun Service is expanding its footprint, recently launching a new terminal in Ho. This facility, equipped with 35-seater executive coaches, aims to improve inter-regional connectivity and bolster tourism in the Volta Region by linking it more effectively to Accra and Kumasi, responding to growing passenger demand.

Regulatory accountability and professional excellence remain bright spots amidst the economic challenges. The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) recently secured a landmark High Court ruling against MSG Freight and Cargo Services, reinforcing the GSA's mandate under the 2024 Act to protect shippers from excess charges and miscalculated fees. On the academic and strategic front, Professor Douglas K. Boateng was awarded the 2026 IMM Institute Supply Chain Lifetime Achievement Award, making him only the second recipient since the institute's founding in 1948. Professor Boateng used the occasion to call for more integrated value chains across the continent, arguing that such synergy is vital to realizing the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ensuring Ghana's long-term industrial resilience through mentorship and knowledge sharing.