Non-Tariff Barriers

Complaint

Complaint number

NTB-000-454  

NTB Type

2.14. Other  

Complaint

The Burkina Shippers' Council logged a complaint on behalf of a shipper whose container was auctioned after he had paid a lot to the agent to pay the demurrage incurred. The CBC implored the fact that the container was auctioned without prior notification to neither the Shippers' Council nor the shipper.

The CBC therefore petitioned the GSA to intervene on the matter.  

Progress update note

Upon receiving this complaint, GSA invited the shipper who had come to Accra to follow-up on the issue.
The shipper explained that the container got to Tema towrards the end of December 2023. He also disclosed that a first agent was engaged to work on the consignment in January but the latter returned both money and documents in March 2024 saying he couldn't work on the container.
the shipper then engaged another Agent in the same month. The shipper claimed to have given the Agent five million Francs CFA (5,000,000.00CFA)then another two million five hundred thousand (2,500,000.00) all in the month of April 2024 for payment of demurrage and a possible removal of the goods, but he couldn't get them. In July 2024, the complainant claimed that his brother came dowm to Accra and paid another one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000.00CFA)because the Agent demanded for it.

Upon hearing this GSA requested to talk to the Agent who was supposed to help clear the container.

The agent claimed the goods went on demurrage before he was engaged but thought he could help pay the demurrage and get the container but couldn't.

The agent also disclosed to GSA that he had taken the matter to court through a lawyer who had written to GRA-Customs seeking clarity on the auctioning of the container.  

Policy or regulatory NTB

No 

Location

Ghana: Tema port (Seaport)  

Reporting Country

Burkina Faso  

Reporting Town

 

Date of incident

2025-02-05  

Status

In process  

Product Description

 

Product Originating Country

 

Total value

0  

Date reported

2025-02-11 12:40  

Modified

2025-02-11 12:40