[ 2015-01-28 ]

Trade Ministry presses ahead with G-CAP
The Ministry of Trade has noted it will go ahead
with the Ghana Conformity Assessment Programme
(G-CAP) despite resistance from businesses.

The programme, championed by the Ghana Standards
Authority (GSA), will result in goods imported
into the country being subjected to strict
inspection at their original destination.

G-CAP is intended to curb the importation of
substandard merchandise into the country.

The initiative was expected to be introduced last
year but was suspended due to stiff opposition
from stakeholders.

Deputy Trade Minister, Kweku Rickets Hagan,
however said the Ministry had concluded the
necessary engagements and the programme will take
off soon.

He insisted that the Ministry had taken note of
all concerns and that proper consultation and
education had been conducted.

“Now all these things have been looked at and I
know that very soon it will happen and will happen
in earnest.

When asked about the concerns of businesses, which
use the ports over double taxation, Mr Hagan
explained that a team has been put in place to
look into any complications and difficulties that
may arise.

“All the concerns that people have raised about
double taxation and double expenses will be
addressed,” he said, adding that “it doesn’t
make sense for us to be duplicating things that
have already been done.”

Importers, however, argued that if Government goes
ahead the programme it will lead to the collapse
of more businesses and industries in the country.

Speaking on behalf of importers and exporters,
John Awuni stated that no good would come out of
the GCAP.

The G-CAP, he said, will be a major cost to
businesses and has already been proven detrimental
in other countries.

He described the G-CAP as a “great danger” and
added that “the Ministry of Trade must not
accede to the pressure from the Ghana Standards
Authority which is looking at ways of raising
revenue against the interest of the business
community.”

The private sector is the engine of growth in any
economy but that as it stands now, Ghana does not
currently support the necessary factors which
would promote good business, he indicated.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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