Tema High Court Slaps GH¢54,000 Fine on Shipping Lines for Late Defence Filing

In a recent ruling, the Tema High Court has imposed a hefty fine of GH¢54,000 on 18 shipping lines for failing to file their defence on time in a case brought against them by Johnny Mantey, the Tema District Chair of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders.

Mantey, represented by lawyer Noah Adamtey, filed a lawsuit on January 21, 2025, accusing the shipping lines of breaching the Shipping Authority Act 1122.

This law mandates that shipping lines submit their service charges to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) for approval, a process the shipping lines allegedly failed to follow.

The defendants initially appeared in court on January 31, 2025, but did not request that the writ be struck out within the required 14-day period. As a result, their appearance automatically became unconditional. Despite this, they failed to file their defence within the subsequent 14 days, as required by law.

In response, Mantey’s legal team filed a motion on March 14, 2025, requesting a judgment in default of defence. The court scheduled a hearing for March 27, 2025.

However, during the hearing, the plaintiff’s lawyers chose to withdraw the motion, which the court accepted.

Presiding over the case, Justice Cynthia Wiredu ruled that the shipping lines should pay a fine of GH¢54,000 for their delay in filing the necessary documents. The fine underscores the importance of adhering to legal deadlines and procedures.

Following this ruling, lawyer Noah Adamtey confirmed that the plaintiff would now respond to the defence filed by the shipping lines. With the defence now on record, the case will proceed in court as scheduled, with the shipping lines facing significant legal and financial consequences for their delays.

The ruling has drawn attention to the need for shipping lines to strictly comply with regulatory timelines and has set a precedent for accountability within the shipping industry.