UAE shipments now take up to four months to arrive – GUTA President
Goods shipped from the United Arab Emirates now take up to four months to reach Ghana, leaving traders facing delayed deliveries and pressure to repay banks, GUTA President Clement Boateng said.
The shipment of goods from the United Arab Emirates now takes up to four months to reach Ghana, according to the President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Clement Boateng. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express Business Edition, he explained that the delays are due to rerouting caused by the conflict and events at the Strait of Hormuz.
"Because you have to reroute as a result of what is happening at the Strait of Hormuz, it now takes quite some time, about three to four months before goods arrive here," Boateng stated.
The extended wait means traders who finance imports through borrowing must start repaying their loans before the goods arrive. This creates an additional burden of clearing the shipments once they reach the port. "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," Boateng emphasized.
Boateng reiterated his plea for banks to provide more time before repayment begins, suggesting a moratorium to give traders some breathing space while they await their goods. The pressure also extends to cargo clearance, as port congestion is exacerbated by the surge in cargo volumes. "Because of the huge volumes of cargo that are coming now, it has also resulted in some delays," he noted.
Boateng pointed to two primary sources of strain for importers: longer shipping times and delays in processing goods after arrival. For traders utilizing bank facilities, these delays come alongside repayment obligations that start as soon as the funds are available. Despite the challenges, Boateng maintained that the overall business climate in 2026 was not overwhelmingly difficult.
"If you want to talk about the generality of business in 2026, it is not all that bad," he said. However, he singled out shipments from the UAE as a significant concern, as the prolonged delivery times place considerable pressure on traders who depend on borrowed funds for their operations.
Written by urgent.news from Joy Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
