Ghana Must Go: Ethiopian Airlines bans popular West African bags

Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria has banned passengers from using a widely famous plastic bag in flights coming from the West African country.

It cited "frequent damages to conveyor belts at various airports" that it said had resulted in significant costs incurred by airlines.

"We kindly request your cooperation in complying with this rule to ensure the smooth operation of our flights and to minimise any potential disruptions," it told passengers in an statement.

The plastic bags gained their infamous Ghana-must-go name in the1980s for their use when thousands of undocumented immigrants, most of them Ghanaians, were ordered to leave Nigeria on short notice.

Nigeria's Federal Airports Authority has denied any involvement on the matter,

In its statement, the airline outlined exceptions of when the plastic bags can be used.

They will have to be packed in a carton or hardcover rectangular container, it said.

The airline is among the dominant operators connecting passengers from the West African region to the rest of the world.