The Economic Community of West African States and European Union are continuing to develop joint border posts in West Africa that are procedurally similar to the one-stop border posts (OSBP) successfully used in East Africa. The Sèmè-Kraké joint border post between Benin and Nigeria and the NoepeAkanu joint border post between Ghana and Togo, for example, were both inaugurated in October last year. In a joint border post, a neutral piece of land is used between the two countries. The road is split in two and transporters are required to stop in the same location or border control zone, but on opposite sides of the road. In East Africa, transporters have to cross over into the opposing country and only then complete the necessary transactions. Mike Fitzmaurice, executive director of Fesarta, says while there are transport associations in Nigeria (notably the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners), Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, it is not abundantly clear how well supported these associations are. “They are certainly not in the realms of the formalised Road Freight Association in South Africa or the Namibia Logistics Association. Lots needs to be done to formalise road transport in West Africa and this is why the World Bank is showing so much interest,” he says. He adds that planned donor development funding from the World Bank and its partners is being raised in this regard. “The World Bank is switching to West Africa because they see it as a developmental opportunity and a means to grow the transport industry in the region.” Reporting on the performance of the seven-year World Bank-funded AbidjanLagos Trade and Transport Facilitation Project, the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation (ALCO) indicates that the single window system is now operational in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin and that the border crossing time for truckloads (except Elubo and Hillacondji) have reached their set targets. ALCO further reports that the ratio of three roadblocks per 100km has also been achieved in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. Despite this, Fitzmaurice says West African states are very backward in terms of road transport regulations and vehicle specifications. “It seems like anything goes when it comes to vehicle harmonisation and operating standards. They are not anywhere near to what we have developed in Southern and East Africa and the policing is more centred towards bribery than law enforcement. They have a lot of checkpoints, but these don’t seem to do much, apart from collect money from drivers.” The World Bank is switching to West Africa because they see it as a developmental opportunity. – Mike Fitzmaurice
