Harassment and extortion by Ivorian security agencies on the Big Assinnie/New Town road near Half Assini has slowed down the movement of people and goods from Cote d’Ivoire to Ghana. This has affected revenue generation by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) branch at the New Town border. This was revealed by an official of the Division Mr Bruce Wampalah and a Station Master of New Town branch PROTOA Martin Anohomah. Mr Wampalah said his outfit last year was collecting duties on over 50 drums of coconut oil a week but regretted this has reduced to 15 drums since the arrival of security officers from Cote d’Ivoire this year. The Station Master also noted that throughout last year, over 13 vehicles could be loaded to Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi daily but said this has drastically reduced to one vehicle to each of the three destinations. He said the security officers - in four groups - are heavily armed and have mounted tents on the 25-kilometre road. They collect 1,000 CFA francs from every non-Ivorian citizen at each point before allowing crossing to Ghana, he added. Mr Anohomah those who are unable to pay are made to return home, compelling most travelers to resort to the use of other routes.