borderless bulletin - january 2012
DESCRIPTION
Borderless is a vision for competitive trade in West Africa – of eliminating barriers to trade. Borderless is an initiative of the West Africa Trade Hub, a project funded by USAID and managed by CARANA Corporation.TRANSCRIPT
B u l l e t i n
I n c r e a s i n g Tr a d e i n W e s t A f r i c a
16th IRTG Report revealsREGIONAL DROPS IN ROAD HARASSMENT
January 2012
Drivers fi nd much needed help at newBORDER INFORMATION CENTER
BORDERLESS ALLIANCEis launched in the sub-region
2 January 2012
improving competitivenessBorderless
name the borderless newsletterWin a PrizeDo you have a good idea for the name of this new Borderless newsletter? We want to hear it – and you could win a prize. The best idea, as determined by the Borderless Alliance executive committee, will win its proposer a Borderless T-Shirt and Hat!
Send us your ideas at [email protected]
Borderless is a vision for competitive trade in West Africa – of eliminating barriers to trade. Streamlining procedures, attacking corruption and facilitating the movement of people and goods will lower costs. Consequently, businesses will expand, create jobs and generate more revenue for government and more income for people.
Borderless is hardly new. It’s the foundation of ECOWAS. Working with partners across the region – in the public and private sector, in civil society, in development agencies and non-governmental organizations – the Trade Hub has led a partnership to develop Borderless to catalyze change.
3Borderless Bulletin
much needed change
newly launched
Visit a centre for more information :
BORDERINFORMATIONCENTER
HELPING TRADERS CROSS THE BORDER HASSLE-FREE
www.borderlesswa.com
Ghana Shipper’s Authority (GSA)Tel: 18179 (toll-free for MTN customers)
Abidjan-Lagos Cooridor Organization (ALCO)Tel: +228 940 43 59
The new Border Information Centers at the Ghana-Togo border have assisted more than two dozen traders and truck drivers in moving goods across the border, reducing harassment and delays. The new centers – hosted by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority in Afl ao, Ghana and by the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organization in Kodjoviakope, Togo – were launched in August.
New Border Information Center
Borderless AllianceTransport stakeholders from across West Africa have launched the Borderless Alliance to spearhead advocacy efforts to increase trade across West Africa. The new alliance includes transport and logistics companies and leading importers and exporters. To join the alliance, visit www.borderlesswa.com.
Follow us on twitter @borderlesswa
publishedMali Truck Drivers GuidePractical information on the rules and regulations on trucking in Mali are now available in a handy easy-to-carry guide published by the USAID West Africa Trade Hub. Request a copy by sending an email to [email protected] or download it from the Borderless website!
published
le guide du
conducteur routier
MA
LI
www.borderlesswa.com
now onlineRoadshow SummariesThe Borderless website blog now includes summaries of issues discussed during stakeholder meetings across the region. Go to www.borderlesswa.com/news to see what issues people are working on.
IN BRIEF
4 January 2012
BU
RK
INA
FAS
O
MA
LI
GH
AN
A Tema
Bamako
Accra
Lomé
NIG
ER
Dakar
SEN
EGA
L
BEN
IN
CÔ
TE
D’IV
OIR
E
NIG
ERIA
SIE
RR
A
LEO
NE
GU
INEA
BIS
SA
U
THE
GA
MB
IA
MA
UR
ITA
NIA
Lagos
Yamoussoukro
Abidjan
LIB
ERIA
Ouagadougou
GU
INEA
Porto
-Novo
Kantch
ari
TOG
O
Cotonou
Niam
eyM
adao
ua
Fada
-Ngo
urma
Parako
u
Noé
Elub
oA�
ao
KodjoviakopéHi
llacondjiKra
kéSeme
Sanv
eeCo
ndji
Bobo
-Dioulasso
Bitou
MAL
I per 1
00 km
2.4
cont
rols
$11.5
2 U
SD
brib
es27
min
utes
of d
elay
3.4
cont
rols
$37.7
7 U
SD
brib
es7
min
ute
of d
elay
GHAN
A per
100 k
m1.6
cont
rols
$1.6
2 U
SD
brib
es18
min
utes
of d
elay
2.8
con
trols
$4.8
6 U
SD
brib
es9
min
utes
of d
elay
3.2
cont
rols
$7.9
3 U
SD
brib
es23
min
utes
of d
elay
TOGO
per 10
0 km
1.3
cont
rols
$2.5
4 U
SD
brib
es12
min
utes
of d
elay
5.7
con
trols
$25.6
2 U
SD
brib
es147
min
utes
of d
elay
BURK
INA
FASO
per 10
0 km
1.7
cont
rols
$5.5
6 U
SD
brib
es20
min
utes
of d
elay
2.7
cont
rols
$20.0
4 U
SD
brib
es19
min
utes
of d
elay
SENE
GAL p
er 10
0 km
2.9
cont
rols
$9.3
2 U
SD
brib
es31
min
utes
of d
elay
5.3
cont
rols
$12.9
1 U
SD
brib
es12
min
ute
of d
elay
CORR
IDOR
STr
ade H
ub*
ATP*
*AL
CO***
ALCO
data
rema
ins un
chan
ged f
rom
May-J
uly 20
10
CONT
ROLS
Polic
eCu
stoms
Gend
arme
rieIm
migr
ation
(Tra
de H
ub &
ATP
)Ot
hers:
Unio
ns, W
ater a
nd F
ores
t Ser
vices
, He
alth S
ervic
e, Fo
rces N
ouve
lles,
Munic
ipaliti
es
(Tra
de H
ub &
ATP
)Ot
hers:
Immi
grati
on, U
nions
, Wate
r and
For
est
Servi
ces,
Healt
h Ser
vice,
Munic
ipaliti
es (A
LCO)
Data
from
truck
s with
all le
gally
requ
ired d
ocum
ents
Data
from
all tr
ucks
carry
ing liv
estoc
k, ma
ize,
mille
t/sor
ghum
, onio
n/sha
llot o
r rice
Data
from
truck
s with
and w
ithou
t all l
egall
y req
uired
do
cume
nts
* ** ***
AP
RIL
1st –
JU
NE
30
th
20
11
km
COTE
D’IV
OIRE
per 10
0 km
1.2
cont
rols
$14.5
4 U
SD
brib
es12
min
utes
of d
elay
5.9
cont
rols
$6.9
7 U
SD
brib
es106
min
utes
of d
elay
BENI
N per
100 k
m2.2
cont
rols
$70.6
0 U
SD
brib
es4
min
ute
of d
elay
4.4
cont
rols
$95.0
3 U
SD
brib
es66
min
utes
of d
elay
NIGE
RIA p
er 10
0 km
17.1
cont
rols
$54.0
1 U
SD
brib
es55
min
utes
of d
elay
COTE
D’IV
OIRE
bord
er c
ross
ing
times
14.6
hour
s Noe
(tran
sit)
GHAN
Abo
rder
cro
ssin
g tim
es
5.0
hour
s Elu
bo (tr
ansit
)33
.0 ho
urs A
flao
(tran
sit)
TOGO
bord
er c
ross
ing
times
4.5
hour
s Kod
jovi
akop
é (
trans
it)8.
6 ho
urs S
anve
e Co
ndji
(tra
nsit)
BENI
Nbo
rder
cro
ssin
g tim
es
45.0
hour
s Hill
laco
ndji
(tran
sit)
1.3
hour
s Kra
ke (tr
ansit
)
NIGE
RIA
bord
er c
ross
ing
times
42.1
hour
s Sem
e (tr
ansit
)
Th
e b
ig p
ictu
re:
ch
eckp
oin
ts,
bri
be
s a
nd
de
lays i
n W
est
Afr
ica
5Borderless Bulletin
With the exception of Senegal, and to a lesser degree, Mali, the road harassment indicators saw a measured decline during the second quarter of 2011 in all of the countries covered by the USAID Trade Hub-UEMOA road governance initiative. This encouraging improvement is due in part to the decrease in harassment seen in Cote d’Ivoire. These results suggest that the increasing number of stakeholders familiar with and committed to a West Africa without borders – Borderless – is leading to a change in mentality.
Compared to the previous quarter (the 15th road governance report), bribery decreased by 6% while declines in the number of checkpoints and the delays drivers experienced dropped by 27% and 22%, respectively. Bribes remain excessive : a truck that is roadworthy and completely legal is compelled to pay 42,000 FCFA (about USD 93) on average per trip.
progressDuring a caravan organized by the road governance initiative in March 2011, customs officials in Togo announced the closure of checkpoints in Kante, North Dapaong and South Cinkanse. The current report shows that this pledge was fulfilled. Several other customs checkpoints do not inspect as many trucks, either. The road governance initiative Focal Point in Togo reports that road harassment by gendarmes and police officers has radically declined also. The 17th report may confirm these observations.
in transitionThis quarter’s results are mixed: a decline in the number of checkpoints and the length of delays for trucks going from Bamako to Abidjan are offset by an increase in bribes per checkpoint. It is difficult to draw conclusions this quarter because no import-carrying trips could be monitored and no data was collected on the Abidjan-Ouagadougou corridor during the previous quarter. However, the government of Cote d’Ivoire has implemented measures to reduce harassment. Specifically, it has published a list of the 33 authorized checkpoints in the country, of which only 8 are on the corridors monitored by the road governance initiative.
a set-backSince joining the initiative in 2009, the indicators in Senegal had improved in consecutive reports. But this quarter all of Senegal’s indicators worsened. This is more surprising given that Senegal is the only country where indicators worsened. Specifically, road harassment increased at the customs checkpoint at Kidira and police checkpoints at Kaffrine, Tambacounda, Kaolack and Fatick ; and above all at Gendarmerie checkpoints at Missira, Diamniado, Botou, Goudiry, Kirene and Maka Kahone.
USAID-UEMOA Road Governance Report Summary
Togo
Côte d’Ivoire
Senegal
Bribes per 100 km (USD)
*Full report available at www.borderlesswa.com
6 January 2012
annual reviewCheckpoints are the bane of the transport industry in West Africa – delaying the movement of vehicles carrying goods and people and frustrating drivers, passengers and traders with unscrupulous officers seeking “something to eat.”
Five years after USAID and UEMOA, with support from ECOWAS, launched an initiative to monitor and report on the problem, improvements have been slow coming. But come they have, stakeholders agreed during the initiative’s annual steering committee meeting in Lome, Togo, in September.
Bribes and delays have dropped – by 36% and 17%, respectively – on the three corridors where the road governance initiative started in 2006. Quarterly reports have reflected the improvements, bit by bit.
Meanwhile, monitoring on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, the busiest trade route in the region, has seen similar improvements. The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organization (ALCO) supported by the World Bank and ECOWAS, which collects data on delays and bribes on that stretch, has measured an intense concentration of checkpoints between Lagos and the Benin border – with one checkpoint on average every four kilometers, it may be the most densely checked route in the world.
“Today everyone recognizes the extent of the problem,” said Dr. Justin Koffi, the ALCO Executive Secretary. “Now, thanks to the monitoring and reporting efforts, many more people are acting. It is in that context that ALCO and Trade Hub are collaborating closely to address the issues of delays and harassment at the borders and on the roads.”
The reporting has led to a change in addressing the problem. First, the scope has broadened: The number of countries with corridors being monitored has since doubled. More importantly, dissemination and advocacy has grown more
THE ‘BANE’ OF TRANSPORT INWEST AFRICA IS STEADILY BEING DEFEATED
emphatic and sophisticated: The Borderless advocacy campaign launched last March 2010 has recently been complemented by a private sector led Borderless Alliance to turn inspiration into action.
“Senegal became a part of the road governance initiative in 2009,” noted Drame Seck, Director of Road Transport in the Ministry of Transport. “The dysfunctional practices related to the numerous checkpoints – delays and bribes – are being addressed.”
“The Borderless campaign allowed people to denounce the practices that had been persisting for a long time,” said Gerard Delanne, Secretary General of Niger’s Union of Merchandise Transporters.
It was a common refrain during the meeting in the Togolese capital. The last year has seen new initiatives bear fruit – caravans in Ghana and Togo led to sustained declines in harassment, stakeholders said – but the primary focus was on the evolution of the initiative: Stakeholders agreed on establishing a West African Transport Observatory, which would expand the monitoring initiative to study virtually all aspects affecting the costs of moving goods and vehicles across the region.
“Certainly, such an observatory will improve regional trade by taking into account the transporters and the ports, too,” said Seydou Traore of the Malian Shippers’ Council.
Milestones reachedThe launch of the Borderless initiative in March 2010, which was carried forward by a variety of awareness raising activities led by civil society organizations in five countries, was a milestone for reducing checkpoints, delays and bribes, stakeholders agreed.
The campaign established common ground for activities from Senegal all the way to Togo – and the involvement of key partners at the Abidjan-
7Borderless Bulletin
CH
EC
KP
OIN
TS
BR
IB
ES
DE
LA
YS
Burkina Faso
Ghana
Togo
Senegal
Côte d'Ivoire
- 1 8 % - 3 9 % - 4 9 %
- 3 0 % - 6 4 % - 1 4 %
- 4 8 % - 5 7 % - 2 8 %
- 1 3 % - 2 9 % - 2 5 %
- 2 2 % - 3 % + 4 0 %
- 4 9 % - 2 3 % - 4 9 %
ROAD HARASSMENT TRENDS IN WEST AFRICA
Since 2006
Since 2006
Since 2006
Since 2006
Since 2009
Since 2010
Lagos Corridor Organization, the USAID ATP/E-ATP projects in Ghana, and leading private sector transport and logistics companies, gave the message greater reach.
“The concept of Borderless has been widely accepted and is a part of many discussions with authorities,” said Seck of Senegal. “The principal goal of all of the UEMOA and ECOWAS regulatory protocols related to trade, transport and trade facilitation is trade without borders in West Africa.”
In May, the prime ministers of Mali and Senegal met under the Borderless banner to discuss trade between their countries. Ghana’s Minister of Trade and other government offi cials across the region have also participated in the campaign.
Data collection activities strengthenedIn a one-day workshop prior to the steering committee meeting, the USAID Trade Hub trained data collection agents from each country along the corridors that identify and assist truck drivers in fi lling out surveys that serve as the basis for the reports. The truck drivers voluntarily indicate on the forms every checkpoint where they encounter delays and/or harassment for bribes.
take meThe Borderless QuizHow well do you know the realities facing transport stakeholders in West Africa? Take this short quiz to test your knowledge! Answers will be posted on the Borderless website on Nov. 30, 2011 at www.borderlesswa.com/quiz.
www.facebook.com/Borderlesswa
www.borderlesswa.com
ATPand E-ATP
ALLOMANTransport
SENEGAL
To report offenses by police offi cers dial 17 or +221 33 84 22 874.
To report offenses by customs offi cials dial800 80 44 44.
To report offenses by gendarmes dial800 00 20 20.
TOGO
To report offenses by gendarmes dial 172.
To report offenses by police offi cers dial 161 or 117.
Drivers can also call commandant Gbadagou at +228 90 05 25 67 to report offenses by either the police or gendarmes.
COMPLAINTS ARE KEY TO REDUCING HARASSMENT
BENIN
To report offenses by customs offi cials dial +229 81 00 00 01 or+229 81 00 00 02.
BURKINA FASO
To report offenses by any uniformed offi cer dial 1010.
COTE D’IVOIRE
To report offenses by police offi cers dial 100.
GHANA
To report offenses by police offi cers dial +233 (0) 30 277 6435.
To report offenses by customs offi cials dial +233 (0) 28 953 3990.
To report offenses by immigration offi cers dial +233 (0)28 955 6000.
MALI
To report offenses by gendarmes dial+223 66 71 17 12.
To report offenses by customs dial+223 79 03 20 33.
NIGER
To report offenses by any uniformed offi cer dial08 00 11 11.
BENIN
COTE D’IVOIRE
GHANA
MALI
TOGO
Uniformed services have set up hotlines that drivers can call to report road harassment. Complaints are one important way drivers can help the uniformed services weed out offi cers who use their positions for personal gain.
Drivers who feel a uniformed offi cial has harassed them can call the following numbers to report the incident:
SENEGAL
NIGER
BURKINA FASO