Charges at Ghana’s ports have been increased and will take effect from July, Starr Business can confirm.

According to documents cited by Starr Business, the Ghana Port and Harbours Authority (GPHA) will be increasing service charges between five to 20 percent.

The services which are going to be affected include demurrage which is the additional cost for not meeting financial obligations to the port, storage charges - monies paid to the port for keeping goods, lift on lift off charges which is monies paid for containerized cargo ship which is loaded and offloaded by the port cranes and derricks among others.

Starr Business understands the tariff hike would have taken effect from June 1 but has been rescheduled to next month because the Ghana Shipper’s Authority is asking for more time to sensitise shipping lines over the increment.

Starr Business checks reveal that the increment has been occasioned by increases in operational costs, especially petroleum prices and utility tariffs.