There is uncertainty over the fate of about 100 stranded Ghanaian bus drivers in the Nigerien Capital, Niamey.
 
The Ghanaians have been held in the Francophone country for about two months after police allegedly seized their travel and vehicle documents.
 
The action is believed to be a crack-down on foreign vehicles which are more preferred by passengers than local vehicles.  
 
Union leaders in Niger are said to have conspired with security agents to prevent travelers from patronizing comfortable Ghanaian buses which are preferred to Nigerien rickety vehicles.     
 
One of the drivers, Francis Awuah told Luv News from Niamey two of his colleagues allegedly remained in custody for days after police arrested them for committing no crime.
 
“The Niger Police have confiscated our vehicle and driving documents. They will neither allow us to load nor give back our documents for us to return. Some have been confiscated for two months, others a month. They are not offering any explanation for the action,” he said.
 
Some Ghanaian passengers arriving from Libya through Niger are also worried at the situation as they protest the “deplorable state of the vehicles” being offered by the Nigerien authorities for their return home.
 
“Most of us arrived from the dessert but are challenged in getting vehicles home. There are a lot of people here hoping to return to Ghana, but the vehicles here are not roadworthy,” said a stranded passenger.
 
A source in Niamey told Luv News on Friday that all the drivers had received their documents back and returned to Ghana.
 
Checks however indicate some of the drivers managed to pay their way through to retrieve their documents, whilst many others remain stranded in Niger. According to them, they are now cash-strapped and have resorted to begging to survive.
 
The stranded drivers are calling on the government to intervene for the release of their travel documents.