…as Ghana Prepares for Mandatory Marine Cover
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has partnered with Insurance Claims Specialist Group (ICSG) Ltd to strengthen cargo loss assessment and claims management as Ghana moves to enforce mandatory local marine cargo insurance.
The partnership aims to improve access to professional claims assessment for importers and exporters who struggle to establish cargo damage, preserve evidence and secure compensation. It will also include public education to prepare businesses for the compulsory framework.
IEAG Executive Secretary, Samson Asaki Awingobit, announced this at a press conference in Accra on Monday, November 9, 2026.
He said the collaboration was informed by the need to give members and the wider business community specialised technical support for cargo losses and insurance challenges.
He stressed that obtaining insurance cover alone is insufficient; businesses must understand how to document losses, assess damage and pursue claims.
Mr Awingobit said the partnership is particularly important as more insurance transactions are domiciled locally, adding that competent claims assessment will build confidence in the system.
Financial consequences
ICSG CEO, Dennis Tufour, said cargo losses can have far-reaching financial consequences, especially for SMEs dependent on individual consignments.
A damaged or missing shipment can cause lost working capital, unpaid bank facilities, interrupted supply contracts, delayed production and job losses.
He argued that marine cargo insurance must be treated as essential risk management, not merely a port documentation requirement.
He noted that goods face risks including physical damage, pilferage, fire, accidents, severe weather, contamination and deterioration across packing, shipping, transshipment, discharge, warehousing and delivery.
Specialised support
Under the partnership, ICSG will provide specialised support in cargo loss assessment and claims management, including inspecting damaged cargo, documenting evidence, assessing the cause and extent of damage, identifying loss-prevention measures and preparing objective reports.
It will also support claims documentation and communication among cargo owners, insurers, brokers, carriers, freight forwarders, port operators and warehouse providers.
Mr Tufour clarified that ICSG will provide technical information and claims-management support, not determine compensation.
As part of the education campaign, ICSG urged importers and exporters to insure correctly, report promptly and document professionally.
It advised businesses to examine policies before shipping, focusing on insured party, cargo description and value, route, risks, exclusions and deductibles; notify insurers and brokers without delay when loss is discovered; and preserve damaged goods, packaging, container seals, photographs and videos.
Mr Tufour said the quality of evidence can significantly influence claims assessment. Using an example of water-damaged goods found after opening a container, he said a proper investigation must establish whether the container was damaged, seals were intact, when water entered and whether damage occurred during shipping, port handling or inland transport.
IEAG said effective implementation of compulsory marine insurance could protect local businesses, strengthen the domestic insurance industry, promote local retention of insurance business and improve regulatory supervision.
Both organisations stressed that compliance must go beyond obtaining certificates and called for greater public education.
Review
Separately, ICSG called for a comprehensive review of compensation limits under CAP 21, particularly for personal injury and death.
Mr Tufour said existing limits deserve re-examination given inflation, rising medical and rehabilitation costs, changing wage levels and the long-term effects of serious injury and death. He proposed engagement with regulators, policymakers, insurers, legal practitioners, medical experts and victim representatives, with reforms informed by claims data, actuarial analysis, legal principles and medical evidence.
Education
The organisations announced a sustained public education and stakeholder engagement campaign using television, radio, newspapers, digital platforms, workshops and meetings.
It will focus on marine cargo insurance, policy exclusions, claims documentation, incident reporting, loss assessment and cargo-damage prevention, with particular attention to SMEs.
Mr Tufour also identified digital reporting, electronic documentation and secure communication as tools to improve claims.
The initiative is expected to bring together insurers, brokers, regulators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, port operators, warehouse providers and trade associations.
Both organisations believe stronger insurance awareness, professional loss assessment and effective claims management will protect commercial investments, improve confidence in Ghana’s marine insurance market and build a more resilient trading environment.
Prosper AGBENYEGA
