The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), with support from the Ministry of Transport (MoT) has successfully secured the release of six Ghanaian cargo trucks that were detained at the Dakola border in Burkina Faso.
The trucks had been held since April 2024 by Burkinabe Customs, on suspicion of transporting prohibited goods from Ghana.
Despite efforts by the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions-Ghana (JAPTU-Ghana) to resolve the issue, it remained unresolved until the GSA intervened in June 2024.
To address the situation, the GSA and the MoT conducted several stakeholder meetings at both the Dakola border and Tema port and worked with Burkina Faso’s Conseil Burkinabe Des Chargeurs (CBC) to facilitate the release of the detained trucks.
On August 20, 2024 Frederick Atogiyire, Northern Zonal Manager of the GSA and his team met with Dr. Kassoum Traore, Director General of the CBC.
Dr. Traore explained that under Burkinabe law, unwholesome cargo could lead to the confiscation of both the cargo and the trucks.
He assured that progress was being made and that an out-of-court settlement had been reached with the shipper, allowing for the trucks’ release.
At a media briefing in Tamale, Atogiyire announced that the trucks had been processed by Burkinabe Customs and were set to continue their journey to Ouagadougou on August 25, 2024 before returning to Ghana on August 29, 2024.
He expressed gratitude for the Burkinabe authorities’ efforts in facilitating the trucks’ release.
