The Ministry of Transport has pushed for the release of over 70 Ghanaian haulage drivers detained in Burkinabe for five weeks. The truck drivers were detained for failing to provide when asked, loading documents covering the trucks cargoes. The document is known as ‘Bon De Chargement’. Officials suspended the application of the decree enforcing the loading regime.
The deputy minister called on the President of Burkina Faso, requesting his intervention in the meeting with Burkinabe importers. The suspension meant the truck drivers would cart cargo from ports to the country would no longer have to produce permits for their cargos for places such as Ghana. The controversial move from the government in Burkinabe came as a result of the Ghanaian government led delegations to protest the mistreatment of the drivers detained.
Mr Joyce Bawa Mogtari, Deputy Minister of Transport led the delegation on the 23rd April 2016. The delegation was imposed upon officials of the GPHA (Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority) and the GSA (Ghana Shippers Authority) as well as Ghana Embassy officials. They strongly oppose the moves by Burkinabe government to detain the truck drivers when they were not in any agreement with Ghana.
The two countries have now been assigned with producing a blueprint for harmony over the trade between the two countries after around 130 haulage drivers, they were then handed over to military police. There have been allegations of maltreating the drivers over the last few weeks.
Ms Sylvia Asana Dauda Owo stated that the Daily Graphic in Accra that the formalities for the drivers release. The release happened almost immediately after the delegation of the officials of Burkina Faso. Ghana made a case for an agreement to be made between both countries on the management of the countries cargo. There’s hopes that the countries can agree on a move forward for the future.
