On November 10, 2011 USAID West Africa Trade Hub organized a road show in Tema, Ghana to raise truck drivers’ awareness about the main issues of trade and transport facilitation. 150 drivers and 31 key transport stakeholders attended the event, representing Ghana Shippers’ council, Ghana Police, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Customs, Ghana Highway Authority, Ghana National Road Safety, Ghana Port Authority, Drivers Unions, Freight Forwarders, SIC, shippers from Burkina Faso and Niger, and Malian transporters. The Trade Hub presented Borderless activities and the latest results from the 16throad governance report. Ghana Shippers’ Authority Branch Manager Mrs. Aryeetey lauded the fruitful collaboration with the Trade Hub on the road governance initiative and the recent Border Information Centre at Aflao.

Concerns raised by the public during the event’s Q&A session included the following issues occurring in Ghana:

• Illegal imprisonment of drivers and harassment of foreign drivers
• Numerous customs checkpoints, in addition to the mandatory ones at Kumasi, Tamale, Bolgatanga, and Paga
• Lack of parking/rest stops at the port and along the corridor
• Unreliability of the weighbridge at Tema port

Stakeholders reminded the audience about the available hotlines to complain about harassment from uniformed officers on the road, and on the safety rules that drivers should apply.

Participants appreciated the opportunity to exchange news on road governance issues and encouraged other similar initiatives in the future. One forwarding agent said, ”Borderless has been very helpful in organizing programs to enhance the welfare of drivers.  We should keep working together and one day we will achieve our goal.”