The Groupement des Entreprises du Cameroun (Gecam) has welcomed the progressive normalization of activities at the port of Douala, bringing an end to a period of disruption caused by double billing. This announcement follows a consultation between key stakeholders in the port, including the Port Autonome de Douala (PAD), Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), and the Chief of Customs Sector of Littoral 1.
The business community particularly welcomes the resumption of container scanning operations by SGS since February 17, 2026. This resumption puts an end to a situation where companies faced double billing for the same service, a practice that had sparked strong protests and threats to suspend import/export activities.
Célestin Tawamba, president of Gecam, highlighted the mobilization of stakeholders that enabled this return to normal. Measures are also underway to reimburse companies for unduly paid amounts during this period of crisis.
The double billing situation had reached a critical point, threatening to paralyze port operations. In response, the Director General of PAD, Cyrius Ngo'o, made the decision to suspend part of Transatlantic D's contract, limiting its role to scanning specific flows, including non-containerized solid bulk traffic and vehicles.
This measure allowed SGS to continue the execution of its initial contract, in accordance with the wishes of the government. The resumption of activities at the port of Douala is seen as a relief for economic operators, who had threatened to suspend their operations if a solution was not found.
The port of Douala, the economic heart of Cameroon, is thus returning to normal operation, which is essential for the country's and the sub-region's trade. The resolution of this double billing crisis demonstrates the importance of dialogue between industry stakeholders and the responsiveness of port authorities.
