Rising cargo volumes are causing port congestion and delaying goods clearance, the President of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), Clement Boateng, said.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, he identified clearance delays as one of the pressures facing traders, alongside longer shipping times from the United Arab Emirates.

“As far as clearance is concerned, at the port, because of the huge volumes of cargo that is coming now, it has also resulted in some delays.”

Mr Boateng said business conditions in 2026 were generally not bad. But disruptions to shipments from the UAE were affecting traders.

He attributed the shipping difficulties to the war and developments at the Strait of Hormuz. He said these forced vessels to reroute and extended delivery times.

Goods expected within 45 to 60 days were now taking about three to four months to arrive. Traders then had to clear them at the port, where congestion added to delays.

The longer wait is also pressuring traders who finance their imports with bank loans. Mr Boateng said repayments begin the month after a facility is taken, leaving borrowers facing demands while their goods are still in transit.

“And assuming you've gone to take a facility from the bank, they will be on your neck because once you take a facility from them, the repayment starts the following month.”

He renewed his call for banks to grant borrowers a moratorium before repayments begin. This would give traders breathing space as they wait for shipments to arrive and clear their goods.

His account highlights two sources of delay for importers: extended shipping journeys and congestion during clearance. For those relying on borrowed funds, the repayment schedule adds further pressure before the goods become available for sale.