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Ghana has incurred an estimated US$46.73 million in demurrage charges on petroleum imports so far in 2026, with the additional costs potentially increasing the price of every litre of fuel sold to consumers by between 47 and 60 pesewas.
The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
According to the policy think tank, the rising costs are largely linked to persistent delays in discharging imported petroleum products, partly due to the country’s heavy reliance on a single major discharge facility at the Tema Port.
CEMSE estimates that demurrage charges account for between 2.63% and 3.35% of retail pump prices, adding to the cost of petroleum products on the domestic market.
The Centre said the situation had become increasingly expensive as petroleum imports and the number of companies operating in the downstream sector had grown without a corresponding expansion in alternative discharge infrastructure.
Ghana’s petroleum product inflows increased by approximately 73%, rising from 3.53 million metric tonnes in 2015 to 6.09 million metric tonnes in 2025. During the same period, the number of Bulk Oil Distribution and Export Companies increased from 37 to 53.
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However, CEMSE noted that alternative mooring facilities had not developed at a similar pace, leaving fuel import operations vulnerable to congestion, longer vessel waiting times and higher demurrage charges.
The latest estimate follows an estimated US$61.6 million in demurrage exposure in 2025, significantly higher than the historical annual estimate of US$35 million.
CEMSE has 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.
The Centre is calling on the government to review the arrangement, remove regulatory barriers and establish a clear framework to attract private investment into alternative mooring infrastructure.
It believes expanding discharge capacity would ease vessel congestion, improve the efficiency of petroleum imports and reduce avoidable costs across the downstream petroleum supply chain.
CEMSE warned that continued operational inefficiencies could have consequences for consumers, as additional costs may be passed on through fuel prices, with wider implications for transportation and business operations.