Ghana has incurred an estimated US$46.73 million in demurrage charges on petroleum imports so far in 2026, a cost that could add between 47 and 60 pesewas to every litre of fuel sold at the pumps.
The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, warning that delays in discharging imported petroleum products were imposing additional costs on the domestic fuel market.
According to the policy think tank, demurrage charges account for between 2.63% and 3.35% of retail pump prices.
It attributed the rising charges partly to Ghana’s heavy reliance on a single major petroleum discharge facility at the Tema Port, which leaves import operations vulnerable to congestion and prolonged vessel waiting times.
CEMSE said petroleum imports had increased significantly without a corresponding expansion in alternative discharge infrastructure.
Petroleum product inflows rose by approximately 73%, from 3.53 million metric tonnes in 2015 to 6.09 million metric tonnes in 2025, while the number of Bulk Oil Distribution and Export Companies increased from 37 to 53 over the same period.
The Centre said the absence of alternative mooring facilities had contributed to delays in discharging fuel cargoes and increased the demurrage costs borne across the petroleum supply chain.
The estimated US$46.73 million incurred so far in 2026 follows a US$61.6 million demurrage exposure in 2025, compared with a historical annual estimate of US$35 million.
CEMSE also raised concerns about a reported 15-year exclusivity arrangement granted to a South African entity in 2015, arguing that it may have discouraged investment in competing petroleum discharge facilities.
It has called on the government to review the arrangement, remove regulatory barriers and establish a framework to attract private investment in alternative mooring infrastructure.
The think tank said expanding discharge capacity would reduce vessel congestion, improve the efficiency of petroleum imports and cut avoidable costs.
It warned that the additional charges could continue to put pressure on fuel prices, with implications for consumers, transport operators and businesses.
