Ms. Benonita Bismarck, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA), has reaffirmed her recommendation to transit truck drivers to exercise caution while driving in view of an increase in insurgency attacks in the West Africa subregion.
On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, she spoke at a gathering of transit stakeholders in Tema and delivered the recommendations.
A convoy of Senegalese vehicles heading from Niger to Senegal was ambushed by armed persons on Saturday, April 29, 2023, according to Ms. Bismarck. She claimed that the event occurred at Nari on the Dori-Kaya major axis along the Niger-Burkina Faso Border and resulted in the hostage-taking of nineteen (19) truck drivers. Thankfully, they were released a little later. She stressed that these regrettable acts have resulted in property loss and destruction, as well as the loss of life in some circumstances.
The safety of drivers, especially while they are traveling with cargo, must always come first, Ms. Bismarck said, and all parties involved in shipping and logistics must collaborate to make sure that happens.
The Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Transport have instructed haulage owners and drivers in Ghana to take alternative routes when heading to the Sahel region due to the rising reports of attacks, particularly along the Dori-Kaya route. They recommended going through northern Togo or Benin.
According to Mr. Peter Ofori Antobrah, the Assistant Commissioner for Transit at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs), if truck drivers encounter terrorist attacks or armed insurrections along their usual routes, Customs is prepared to help them find safer detours. He declared that as soon as they learned of any such threats, they would be happy to help. He admitted that although these efforts might not totally prevent insurgent attacks, they have been put in place to assist lessen them, such as the "See something, Say something" initiative. Also, those who live near these boundaries have been instructed on how to report any suspicious activity they may come across.
Truck drivers and other interested parties were advised to contact Customs if necessary, and Assistant Commissioner Ofori Antobrah reassured them that there would be no fees for assistance in changing their routes.
Traders, haulage owners, transporters, and other stakeholders were informed by Mr. Benjamin Blay of ICUMS that ICUMS is collaborating with Customs and Ghana's neighboring nations to make the necessary system adjustments for the smooth re-routing of transit cargo.
The meeting provided GSA with the chance to instruct the truck drivers on the "Dangerous Cargo" notice. When moving or coming across such things on the roads, they highlighted the need to drive with extreme caution. The training was directed by Mr. Kwadwo Opoku Mensah, the Western Area Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
