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Ghana lost 290,859 metric tonnes of transit cargo to neighbouring countries in 2013 as a result of policies that importers and exporters described as not business friendly. It dropped from 1,297,879 metric tonnes in 2012 to 1,007,020 metric tonnes in 2013. The drop represents 22.4% over the 2012 figure. Transit imports dropped from 1,218,736 metric tonnes in 2012 to 966,452 metric tonnes in 2013, representing 20.7% drop. Transit exports also dropped from 79,143 in 2013 to 40,568 in 2013, representing 48.7% drop. Due to its numerous benefits to the transit countries, Cote d�Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Senegal are presently competing for the same transit cargoes of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. The loss of transit trade affects a number of areas such as revenue generation in taxes, warehousing revenue losses, insurance companies losing business of insuring transit cargo, banks losing business of transferring funds for payment transactions� The loss of transit cargo also endangers the Boankra Inland port project, which is linked to transit trade. Madam Sylvia Asana Owu, Head of Freight and Logistics, Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), told The Finder that the importers and exporters said they were relocating to other West African countries because of the disparity in the required axle load in each country. She said the strict implementation of the policy in Ghana means haulage trucks carry less load in Ghana compared to other West African countries where the policy has been relaxed, making it possible for haulage trucks to carry more goods. With this unfortunate trend, Ghanaian trucks are now prostituting in all other countries for greener pastures due to the poorly implemented axle load policy. Madam Owu explained that interactions with transit cargo operators also revealed that cumbersome processes at Ghana�s ports were also to blame for the relocation of transit trade. Transit fees of the equivalent of $200 is charged for each consignment in transit through Ghana, which is also another factor that is driving away transit trade as consignment in transit is free in Cote d�Ivoire, Togo and Benin. A major beneficiary of the increased use of the Ghana corridor by the landlocked countries is the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and by extension the Government of Ghana. Transit cargoes have added to the cargo throughput at the port, thus increasing the revenue of the GPHA. Benefits of Transit Trade Investment opportunities have arisen. For instance, the coming on-stream of a dedicated container terminal, freight parts and car parks by the Ghana Harbours Authority, as well as the private sector are a result of increased cargo volumes at the ports. Another group of beneficiaries of the transit trade is the warehouse and other storage facility operators. The incidence of transit trade has increased the demand for warehouses in and around the seaports because transitors need a lot of time to organise the transportation of their cargoes to the consignees in the landlocked states. The storage facilities at the ports therefore are a convenience and provide that breather. Arising out of the transit trade is the creation of a unit within the State Insurance Company (SIC) to handle the insurance needs of the transiting vehicles. The SIC, which is the National Guarantor in the transit trade for Ghana, covers the liability of truckers throughout their journey on the Ghana corridor by way of insurance policy. This is additional income for the national insurer. The banks have also continued to act as conduits for the transfer of funds for payments for all transactions by the transitors. A major consideration for the establishment of the Inland Port in Boankra near Kumasi is the increasing transit trade on the corridor. Almost all the transit trade cargo to or from the seaports of Ghana go through Kumasi. The development of the Inland Port and its ancillary activities would be of great benefit to the country. Additionally, commercial transit parking lots have sprung up for the convenience of trackers. Other new opportunities for service include the setting up of agent offices by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to monitor axle load conforming to specific standards. There is also increased haulage and freight forwarding activities as a result of the transit trade. Due to the good condition of most Ghanaian trucks, they often benefit from contracts to transport the transit cargoes over long distances into Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. The total volume of imports and exports for 2013 amounted to 21,901,418 as against 21,610,451 � an increase of just 1.3%. Imports for 2013 were 17,040,924 compared to 17,128,433 in 2012, a drop of point 5%, while exports rose from 4,482,018 in 2012 to 4,482,018 in 2013, an increase of 8.4%. Madam Owu said generally the country recorded between 10 and 17% increase in trade over the past five years. She said the Authority anticipated 10% increase last year. She told The Finder that interactions with industry players reveal that the depreciation of the cedi was one of the factors. Also, she said the industry players complain of slow pace of business in Ghana, forcing them to reduce their imports, wait till their products are sold before they import more. She noted that the authority was hopeful that managers of the economy would stabilise the local currency this year for improved business. In a related development, the Ghana Haulage Transport Owners Association (GHTOA) has announced an indefinite strike effective Saturday, February 1, 2014 in protest against government�s implementation of the new axle load regime. About 18,000 articulated truck operators were expected to participate in the agreed protest. The strike will affect haulage services at all ports in the country, as well as the Kotoka International Airport. The association says government�s refusal to grant a request to peg the axel load limit to conform to that of other neighbouring countries prompted the withdrawal of their services. General Secretary of the association, Salia Adams said at a press conference that �we are protesting against the implementation of the new axle load limits.�