Ghana and Niger have renewed their long-standing trade cooperation with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Accra to enhance the efficiency of transit operations and eliminate bottlenecks along the corridor linking the two countries.
The agreement commits both nations to improving information exchange, harmonising Customs procedures, strengthening cargo tracking systems, and promoting infrastructure development to support smoother and more secure cross-border trade.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Prof. Ransford Gyampo, said the pact was timely, given the persistent challenges confronting transit trade operators.
He identified major issues such as the imposition of value-added tax (VAT) on transit cargo, lack of transparency in cargo handling, multiple checkpoints, extortion, axle load concerns, and security risks as major factors undermining the competitiveness of the corridor.
“Central to the challenges commercial operators face on Ghana’s corridor include VAT on transit cargo, non-transparent handling of goods, numerous checkpoints and related extortions, axle load problems, and security issues. These add to the cost of doing business and reduce competitiveness,” Prof. Gyampo said.
He urged all transit shippers to register with the GSA in line with the new Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122). The registration, he explained, was crucial to sanitising the transit system, enhancing accountability, and reducing malpractice.
According to him, the database to be generated from the registration exercise would be shared with the Niger Shippers’ Council (NSC) to strengthen coordination and mutual trust between the two countries.
“Importantly, this data will be shared with our partners at the Niger Shippers’ Council to facilitate smoother trade flows, enhance coordination, and strengthen mutual trust between our two institutions,” he said.
Prof. Gyampo also highlighted the ongoing construction of the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal (BILT), which is designed to serve northern Ghana and neighbouring landlocked countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
When completed, the terminal is expected to reduce transport costs by about 14 percent for cargo routed through Tema Port and up to 48 percent for goods through Takoradi Port, further positioning Ghana as a key logistics hub in the subregion.
He noted that the project aligned with the government’s broader 24-hour economy policy, which seeks to promote productivity and competitiveness by ensuring continuous operations across strategic sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, and transport.
The new Ghana–Niger MoU also establishes a technical committee to monitor implementation, conduct research, provide training, and address emerging disputes in real time.
On the enforcement of the ECOWAS Supplementary Act on axle load limits, which has faced resistance from some Ghanaian drivers, Prof. Gyampo said the GSA would collaborate with transport unions to roll out sensitisation and compliance programmes aimed at ensuring uniform enforcement and smoother transit movement.
“We are working closely with our transport partners to promote compliance with regional standards and ensure trade flows are not disrupted by misunderstanding or noncompliance,” he said.
For his part, the Director-General of the Niger Shippers’ Council, Colonel Major Souley Ibrahim, commended Ghana for taking concrete steps to address bottlenecks and streamline the transit system.
“This MoU reflects our shared responsibility to promote efficiency and strengthen trade between our two countries,” he said.
He reaffirmed Niger’s commitment to collaborating with Ghana to enforce axle load regulations, harmonise Customs procedures, and advance regional trade integration under the ECOWAS and AfCFTA frameworks.
Ghana and Niger have a long history of cooperation in transit trade, with earlier MoUs signed in 2000, 2007, and 2018. The latest agreement expands the scope to reflect new challenges in regional logistics and emerging opportunities in digital trade facilitation.
Officials say the renewed partnership will help both countries boost corridor efficiency, lower costs, and enhance Ghana’s position as a preferred transit hub for landlocked neighbours within West Africa.
