‘We’ll resolve Brown Card challenges’ (Oct 14, 2016)
The newly elected Chairman of the Executive Council of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme, Mr Godfred Djanie, has pledged to resolve issues concerning the rejection in some Francophone countries of the ECOWAS Brown Card insurance issued by Ghanaian insurance companies by the first quarter of next year.
Mr Djanie, the Managing Director of Millennium Insurance, who was elected chairman at the just-ended 33rd Ordinary Session of the scheme in Accra, said it was a few unscrupulous people in the Francophone countries who were using their influence to reject the Brown Card and harass Ghanaian drivers who plied their countries.
The pledge follows accusations by the Ghana Haulage Transport Association that some Francophone countries in the West African sub-region constantly harassed and showed very little respect for ECOWAS Brown Card insurance issued by insurance companies in Ghana.
The President of the association, Alhaji Abdulai Baba, had told the Daily Graphic last Wednesday that many Ghanaian drivers plying the international routes were detained, particularly in Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso, because the authorities in those countries placed very little value on Brown Card insurance issued in Ghana to ease the movement of goods and services.
Ghana field study
Field studies conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration also revealed prolonged and widespread delay in the settlement and payment of cross-border claims by the various national bureaux.
To avoid the frustration and inconvenience of using an insurance card that is worthless in those countries, the drivers are compelled to rather buy the insurance from those countries, to the detriment of local insurance companies.
‘We’ll deal with it’
However, on the night of his inauguration, Mr Djanie said those complaints would be a thing of the past.
“It is one of the issues that came up and we discussed it extensively. Burkina Faso came up specifically and that country offered some reasons for what is happening.
“We believe that it is not enough and we need to work towards the acceptance of the card by all because the protocol establishing the scheme was signed by all of us. We all get the brown card from one source and so I don’t understand why ours is not acceptable.
“We think that it is only a few people who are doing that, with the intention of creating additional income for some insurance companies. It won’t be a problem anymore. Now that it has come to our notice, we will work assiduously to tackle it. By the first quarter of next year, we should be able to make sure it is resolved,” he told the media on the fringes of a cocktail at a dinner-dance to crown the three-day meeting.
Earlier at the function, Mr Djanie, in his acceptance speech, had rallied members of the scheme to put their shoulders to the wheel to enable it to achieve its objectives.
“We on the Executive Committee cannot achieve those lofty goals alone without assistance, commitment and cooperation from all those present who are involved in the Brown Card Scheme.
“We shall soon be knocking on your doors for support when necessary and trust that you will respond positively,” he added.
He commended his predecessor, Mr Keita, for his good work and pledged to continue where he left off.
Mr Keita, for his part, applauded members of the scheme for the support given him and urged them to give the same support to the incoming team.
Ghana takes over
Ghana took over the reins of the scheme with the election of Mr Djanie and another Ghanaian, Mr Winfred Dodzi, as the new Permanent Secretary-General of the scheme.
While Mr Djanie takes over the Executive Council for one year from the Malian, Mr Leopold Keita, for one year, Mr Dodzi takes over from Mr Bio Adamou for the next four years.
ECOWAS Brown Card
The ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme was established by protocol on the free movement of persons and goods across national boundaries of ECOWAS member states.
The Brown Card Scheme is the equivalent of the Green Card in the European community, the Pink Card in Arab countries and the Yellow Card within the East African Economic bloc.
Ghana established the National Bureau, made up of insurance companies licenced to underwrite motor insurance business, in 1988 and it has been operational to date.
Mr Djanie, the Managing Director of Millennium Insurance, who was elected chairman at the just-ended 33rd Ordinary Session of the scheme in Accra, said it was a few unscrupulous people in the Francophone countries who were using their influence to reject the Brown Card and harass Ghanaian drivers who plied their countries.
The pledge follows accusations by the Ghana Haulage Transport Association that some Francophone countries in the West African sub-region constantly harassed and showed very little respect for ECOWAS Brown Card insurance issued by insurance companies in Ghana.
The President of the association, Alhaji Abdulai Baba, had told the Daily Graphic last Wednesday that many Ghanaian drivers plying the international routes were detained, particularly in Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso, because the authorities in those countries placed very little value on Brown Card insurance issued in Ghana to ease the movement of goods and services.
Ghana field study
Field studies conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration also revealed prolonged and widespread delay in the settlement and payment of cross-border claims by the various national bureaux.
To avoid the frustration and inconvenience of using an insurance card that is worthless in those countries, the drivers are compelled to rather buy the insurance from those countries, to the detriment of local insurance companies.
‘We’ll deal with it’
However, on the night of his inauguration, Mr Djanie said those complaints would be a thing of the past.
“It is one of the issues that came up and we discussed it extensively. Burkina Faso came up specifically and that country offered some reasons for what is happening.
“We believe that it is not enough and we need to work towards the acceptance of the card by all because the protocol establishing the scheme was signed by all of us. We all get the brown card from one source and so I don’t understand why ours is not acceptable.
“We think that it is only a few people who are doing that, with the intention of creating additional income for some insurance companies. It won’t be a problem anymore. Now that it has come to our notice, we will work assiduously to tackle it. By the first quarter of next year, we should be able to make sure it is resolved,” he told the media on the fringes of a cocktail at a dinner-dance to crown the three-day meeting.
Earlier at the function, Mr Djanie, in his acceptance speech, had rallied members of the scheme to put their shoulders to the wheel to enable it to achieve its objectives.
“We on the Executive Committee cannot achieve those lofty goals alone without assistance, commitment and cooperation from all those present who are involved in the Brown Card Scheme.
“We shall soon be knocking on your doors for support when necessary and trust that you will respond positively,” he added.
He commended his predecessor, Mr Keita, for his good work and pledged to continue where he left off.
Mr Keita, for his part, applauded members of the scheme for the support given him and urged them to give the same support to the incoming team.
Ghana takes over
Ghana took over the reins of the scheme with the election of Mr Djanie and another Ghanaian, Mr Winfred Dodzi, as the new Permanent Secretary-General of the scheme.
While Mr Djanie takes over the Executive Council for one year from the Malian, Mr Leopold Keita, for one year, Mr Dodzi takes over from Mr Bio Adamou for the next four years.
ECOWAS Brown Card
The ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme was established by protocol on the free movement of persons and goods across national boundaries of ECOWAS member states.
The Brown Card Scheme is the equivalent of the Green Card in the European community, the Pink Card in Arab countries and the Yellow Card within the East African Economic bloc.
Ghana established the National Bureau, made up of insurance companies licenced to underwrite motor insurance business, in 1988 and it has been operational to date.
Comments
Post a Comment