The Ghana Shipper’s Authority (GSA) on Friday cautioned shippers, transit operators, haulers, freight forwarders and the shipping community of the enforcement of non-ECOWAS cargo destined to Côte d’Ivoire.

A statement to the GNA said the government of Côte d'Ivoire had begun enforcing an existing directive requiring all cargoes originating from non-ECOWAS countries and destined to Côte d’Ivoire to be cleared only at the seaports of Côte d'Ivoire.

It appealed to the Ghanaian shipping community to take note of the directive in their business transactions to avoid a situation where trucks loaded with such cargoes are held up at the land borders.

The GSA statement said in view of the enforcement of the directive by the Ivoirian authorities, trucks carrying cargoes destined for Côte d’Ivoire but originating from non-ECOWAS countries and not in transit through Côte d’Ivoire would not be allowed clearance at the land borders for entry.

The statement said GSA was collaborating with the Ministry of Transport and the Ivoirian authorities to find a lasting solution to the problems that might emanate from the enforcement of this directive.

“The Ghana Shippers’ Authority wishes to advise all truck owners, drivers and consignors whose trucks have been detained at the Noe/Elubo border as a result of this directive to contact the offices of the authority,” it said.