The Media Coalition for Good Governance (MCGG) has strongly rejected unverified claims made by a group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) regarding Ghana’s port operations, warning that unsubstantiated allegations could derail critical reforms in trade facilitation and public health security.
The CSOs recently raised concerns over port disinfection services and the reliability of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), claiming the processes were disrupting national trade.
Call for Fact-Based Criticism
Speaking at a press briefing in the capital, MCGG Convener Kwadwo Baffour Atuahene clarified that while the coalition welcomes efforts to upgrade port systems, public criticism must be anchored in verifiable data rather than sensationalism.
“Acknowledging that systems can improve is not the same as accepting unsupported allegations,” Atuahene stated. “No port system anywhere in the world is perfect. Like all advanced ports globally, Ghana’s ports require continuous enhancement across customs operations, terminal management, shipping logistics, health surveillance, and related regulatory frameworks.”
While affirming MCGG’s support for upgrading operational standards, transparency, and infrastructure, he stressed that meaningful reform cannot be achieved through claims that lack professional analysis or factual backing.
Balancing Accountability with Responsibility
The coalition acknowledged the vital role CSOs play in safeguarding democratic governance and demanding accountability, but reminded the organizations that public advocacy requires a high standard of integrity.
Protecting National Interests
The MCGG emphasized that sectors directly tied to national trade and health security demand a committed, fact-based discourse from all stakeholders to protect the country’s economic architecture.
“That is how institutions are strengthened. That is how public confidence is maintained. And that is how Ghana’s health security architecture can continue to evolve and improve in the national interest,” Atuahene concluded.
Reaffirming its own commitment to accountability, the MCGG urged all stakeholders to avoid sensationalized narratives and instead collaborate on evidence-based solutions to optimize Ghana’s ports.
