Haulage drivers clash with Customer officers over excessive charges
Haulage drivers operating on the Paga-Burkina-Faso road clashed with the Customs officers at the Paga border over new parking fees at the border.
Snr. Kwame Kusi 
The drivers, numbering over a hundred prevented the Customs officers from collecting the fees from drivers who were leaving the lorry park, which resulted in a misunderstanding between the drivers and the customer's officers.
Media personnel that was invited by the drivers to report their concerns also had some challenges with the Customs officers, resulting in the arrest of a TV3 Correspondent, whose name was Mohammed Rabiu Tanko. His phone, which he was filming with, was seized and he was dragged from the scene to the Customs office.
The Customs officers fired warning shots when they realized the crowd was becoming big.
The drivers are asking the Paga border officials to charge the same amount being charged at other borders.
According to the drivers, the officers at the border post charge GH¢50.00 for packing between 0-4hours and 4hours – 8hours attracts GH¢70.00.
The drivers say if these fees are maintained, they will end up spending all their money at the border and may land them in trouble.
They said all other borders charge a flat rate of GHc10.00 for packing, unlike the Paga border which charges them on an hourly basis.
Stephen Amoah, Upper East Region
