[ 2016-02-22 ]

Government urged to decentralize processes in permit acquisition
Accra, Feb. 22, GNA - The Private Enterprises
Federation (PEF) has urged government to
decentralize the application process in acquiring
licenses and permits through the use of an
electronic platform with complementary bank
accounts to reduce delays and save time.

The Federation believes that the processes would
require that applicants file scanned copies of all
supporting documents through a designated website
created by the respective agencies receiving
applications and enable them pay application fees
directly into the agency’s account.

This, the Federation said, would help reduce the
time it takes to process applications by business
enterprises as well as serve as data base for
reference and research purposes.

Nana Osei Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of PEF,
made the call when he spoke during a panel
discussion in Accra on the Ghana Journalists
Association programme dubbed: “Business
Advocate” on Ghana Television.

The programme on the topic: “Streamlining the
Processes and Procedures for Permits, Certificates
and Licenses for Business Operations”, is
supported by BUSAC Fund, Denmark Embassy, United
States Agency for International Development and
the European Union.

Nana Bonsu said business organizations in the
country have expressed worry about the unjustified
delay in the processes they go through to obtain a
license to operate, adding that a prospective
applicant had to go through six frustrating
processes to get a permit.

The Federation is urging government to resource
agencies mandated in processing the acquisition of
licenses and permits for business operations to
perform effectively.

He was of the view that the private sector can be
more competitive if these agencies are adequately
resourced to perform satisfactorily adding that
the little budget released to these agencies
delays effective and efficient delivery of
service.

Nana Bonsu said a study of the regime for business
registrations in the country was carried out in
2008 at the request of the Ministry of Trade and
Industry to review the time and cost for complying
with requirements for registration with the
Companies Registry, and various local government
authorities.

He said as a follow up to that study, in 2009 the
USAID in partnership with PEF sponsored a research
study to establish all licensing and permit
requirements affecting businesses in the country.

The study, he said, revealed that a total of 145
or more business licenses or permit requirements
were in force in the country and this affected
businesses to varying degrees.

Nana Bonsu said the Federation recommended that a
percentage of user fees be charged by the
respective agencies to be retained for the day to
day running of the agencies including purchases of
logistics and its maintenance.

“The Federation also recommended a sustained
public education [effort] through brochures
explaining requirements, processes and timelines
to help the businesses understand the policies and
laws that govern the operations of the respective
agencies as well as the application processes and
procedures employed to service the business
community”, he said.

Mr Ben Azure, Vice Chairman for Parliamentary
Select Committee on Environment, Science and
Innovation, urged agencies to fast track the
processes since any delays caused in acquiring the
licences and permits added to the cost of doing
business.

Mr Charles Okyere, the Managing Partner at
Lawfields Consulting, urged business organisations
to channel their grievances to the Parliamentary
Select Committee for redress, adding that
stakeholder engagement is critical in solving the
issues.

Mr Alhassan Mohammed, Principal Officer, Town and
Country Planning Department, said the department
is currently understaffed and is operating at a
minimum level 34 per cent of technical staff.

Source - GNA

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