Security agencies, truck drivers worry over fuel tanker congestion at Paga border

Security agencies and transit truck drivers at the Paga border in the Upper East Region have raised concerns over the growing congestion of cargo trucks, particularly fuel tankers.

According to intelligence, they have lined up not only at the border but also within the Paga township.

Over the past two weeks, the border has witnessed an unusual influx of trucks, the majority of which are heading to the landlocked countries of Burkina Faso and Mali.

While the exact cause of this sudden increase remains unclear, some reports suggest that unrest in neighbouring regions is prompting many trucks to reroute through the Paga border.

Despite the best efforts of security agencies to expedite the processing of cargo, particularly fuel tankers, a slow and inefficient clearance process on the Burkina Faso side of the border has caused significant gridlock, further exacerbating the situation.

A Customs Officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed concern about the chaotic parking arrangement on the Burkina Faso side, stating: “We do our best to manage the cargo on our side of the border, ensuring a proper arrangement in the truck park. However, once the trucks cross over to Burkina Faso, it’s a different story. There is no order – fuel tankers are parked alongside vehicles carrying explosives and consumables. It’s a disaster waiting to happen”.

“After the tragedy in Appiatse, we are extremely cautious. The proximity of fuel stations around Paga heightens the danger. If there is an accident or explosion, the consequences could be catastrophic,” the officer further added.

A truck driver, Samuel Ntow, echoed these sentiments, urging local authorities in the Kassena Nankana West District to take urgent action.

“Trucks are arriving in droves, and the entire Paga township is becoming congested. The situation with the fuel tankers is particularly alarming. We need a strategy to manage this crisis before disaster strikes. One solution might be to stop loading fuel tankers in Tema temporarily to control the situation here,” the driver said.

An Immigration Officer, also speaking anonymously, expressed concerns about the risk of penalties for overstaying transit trucks. “Many of the transit trucks are rushing to avoid penalties for overstaying in Ghana.

However, given these unusual circumstances, it would be wise to temporarily waive the penalties and implement a comprehensive strategy to address the congestion. We’ve already seen some fuel tankers leaking, which has caused panic in the Paga township. A disaster like Appiatse could happen here, and we need to act fast to prevent it.”

Some interim measures taken to deal with the challenge include the creation of a holding area at Pwalugu and Khandiga to delay the trucks and afford officials at the Paga border to ease congestion at the border before releasing the truck in batches.

Also, Burkina Faso authorities have created a holding area in Po to accommodate the trucks and ease congestion at the border.

Nonetheless, both truck drivers and security personnel are calling on the government to address the issue with urgency in order to avert a potential disaster.