President Mahama Urged to Intervene in Port Congestion Crisis as AI Drives Record Customs Revenue

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called on President John Mahama to lead a high-level intervention to address worsening congestion at the nation’s ports, which now threatens to destabilize the construction industry and trade competitiveness. This appeal comes at a time of fiscal contrast; while physical operations at the ports face significant bottlenecks, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has reported a dramatic surge in revenue. Monthly collections have jumped from $350 million to approximately $450 million following the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems for valuation and classification.

At the heart of the operational crisis is a severe clinker shortage at Tema Port, where six vessels carrying 236,000 metric tonnes of the essential cement raw material are currently stranded at anchorage. The delays have resulted in massive demurrage bills ranging between $3.67 million and $4.51 million. With waiting times increasing by an average of 26.5 days, the cement manufacturing industry has warned that these escalating operational costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers, leading to significant price hikes for construction projects and homeowners. The IEAG noted that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has yet to fulfill its commitment to activate a fourth berth to alleviate the pressure.

Beyond infrastructure, the IEAG highlighted systemic inefficiencies within customs practices as a primary driver of the gridlock. Executive Secretary Samson Asaki Awingobit pointed to the high rate of physical container examinations as a major contributor to delays. He warned that if the presidency does not dispatch a delegation of ministers and regulatory heads to overhaul these processes, importers may begin diverting cargo to neighboring ports. This risk of cargo loss poses a direct threat to the very revenue gains the government has recently celebrated through its digitalization efforts.

In contrast to the physical delays, the GRA’s digital reforms have proven highly successful. Commissioner General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong recently announced that AI-driven administrative reforms have increased monthly revenue by $100 million without the need for new taxes or higher rates. Speaking at the West African Tax Administrators Forum, Sarpong emphasized that the success in Ghana demonstrates how political will and digital innovation can transform fiscal outcomes. However, the current port crisis suggests that these digital successes in revenue collection must be matched by operational efficiency on the ground.

As the Mahama administration weighs its response, the business community remains focused on the urgent need for a balanced maritime strategy. While the $450 million monthly revenue milestone provides a strong fiscal cushion, the threat of rising cement prices and the potential loss of transit trade to regional competitors remain high. Stakeholders are now looking for the presidency to harmonize the efficiency of digital tax collection with the physical realities of port logistics to ensure sustainable economic growth.