CEMSE warns petroleum discharge delays add GH₵0.60 to fuel costs

The Centre for Media, Society and Economic Studies (CEMSE) has revealed that Ghana lost an estimated US$46.73 million in 2026 due to demurrage charges at the Tema Port. According to the research group, these operational delays in discharging petroleum products are significantly inflating retail prices, adding between GH₵0.47 and GH₵0.60 to the cost of every litre of fuel sold in the country. These charges currently represent approximately 2.63% to 3.35% of the total retail price at the pumps.

CEMSE’s findings highlight a growing strain on Ghana’s downstream petroleum infrastructure. While the volume of petroleum imports has surged by 73% since 2015 and the number of distribution companies has grown from 37 to 53, the country’s discharge capacity has failed to keep pace. Currently, the Tema facility handles 75% of all petroleum discharges, creating a bottleneck that leaves vessels waiting and accumulating high costs. The group noted that demurrage costs in 2025 were even higher, reaching approximately US$61.6 million.

A major barrier to resolving this congestion, according to the group, is a 15-year exclusivity arrangement granted to a South African entity. CEMSE argues that this agreement prevents other private-sector players from investing in alternative discharge facilities that could provide the necessary competition and efficiency to lower costs. The group is urging the government to review these restrictive agreements and open the sector to more diverse infrastructure investment to alleviate the burden on consumers.

In its statement issued on November 5, 2026, CEMSE emphasized that without immediate government action to improve alternative infrastructure, the public will continue to bear the brunt of avoidable operational inefficiencies. The organization has called for a strategic shift to decentralize discharge points and reduce the over-reliance on a single facility. As of the time of the report, the government had not yet issued a formal response to these recommendations.