The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) is calling for a complete shutdown of affected imports through all land borders, insisting that the recent ban at the Aflao border must be expanded nationwide.

In a statement issued Monday, FABAG commended the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for what it described as a “bold and timely directive” banning the entry of transit goods for selected products through the Aflao border.

The Association said the move is “a significant step toward safeguarding local industries, protecting government revenue and strengthening regulatory control at the nation’s borders.”

However, FABAG warned that limiting enforcement to a single border could undermine the policy’s impact.

“While we commend this important action at the Aflao border, we respectfully urge the Government and the Ghana Revenue Authority to extend this directive to all other land borders across the country without exception,” the statement said.

According to the Association, restricting the directive to a single entry point could lead to the diversion of transit goods to other borders, thereby defeating the policy objective.

FABAG went further to demand that the scope of the directive go beyond transit goods to a complete ban on the entry of the affected products through land borders into Ghana, whether for transit or direct consumption.

“A partial restriction that targets only transit consignment may inadvertently create loopholes that can be exploited, leading to continued smuggling, under-declaration, and unfair market practices,” it stated.

The Association argued that a nationwide and comprehensive enforcement regime would protect local industries and jobs, promote fair trade and competitive neutrality, curb smuggling and illicit trade, enhance revenue mobilisation for national development, and strengthen border security and regulatory oversight.

FABAG said Ghana’s manufacturing and formal trading sectors are already operating under significant cost pressures, including high tariffs, taxes, logistics costs and regulatory burdens.

“Allowing uncontrolled inflows of goods through porous land borders places compliant businesses at a severe disadvantage and threatens the sustainability of domestic production,” the statement warned.

The Association called on all relevant state agencies, including Customs, border security authorities, and regulatory institutions, to collaborate to ensure strict enforcement of the directive nationwide.

It stressed that consistency in policy implementation across all land entry points is critical to achieving the desired economic and regulatory impact.

FABAG reiterated its support for government efforts to sanitise the trading environment and protect the integrity of Ghana’s borders.

The Association said it remains committed to constructive engagement with policymakers to promote policies that support local industry growth, revenue protection and national economic resilience.

In New York City, a travel ban brought the city of over 8 million to a near standstill before it was lifted at noon local time. All roads, highways and bridges were shuttered.

In Connecticut and New Jersey, there were concerns that falling trees and branches could lead to dangerous road conditions and more power outages.

In Providence, a city spokesman told The Providence Journal that more than 300 vehicles had been towed for parking in the way of snowploughs.

Though by the afternoon on Monday, tow operations had stopped and drivers were instead helping people whose vehicles had gotten stuck.

Meanwhile, people looking to travel within the US on Monday, struggled.

The number of cancelled flights within, into or out of the US reached more than 5,706, according to tracking website FlightAware.

The site shows that 98% of flights out of New York's LaGuardia airport were cancelled, and 91% of flights from JFK - New York City's primary airport hubs that typically see more than 335,000 passengers daily.

Both locations had seen around 19in (48cm) of snow.

Boston's Logan International Airport cancelled 92% of outgoing flights on Monday, while New Jersey's Newark Liberty Airport cancelled 92%, and Philadelphia International Airport cut 80%.

The region will continue to reel from the snow on Tuesday, when more than 2,000 flights into or out of the US are expected to be cancelled, with Boston and New York airports the worst hit.