Gov't cannot talk ease of doing business while adding more costs - FABAG rejects Ghana Easy Pass

The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) mounted strong opposition to the Ghana Standards Authority's new Ghana Easy Pass Programme in a statement issued on Monday, July 6. FABAG stated it "expresses its strongest condemnation of the decision by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to introduce the Ghana Easy Pass Programme, a mandatory pre-export conformity verification regime for imported products destined for Ghana." The association warned that the policy will increase the cost of doing business, raise consumer prices, and undermine the government's pledge to improve the business climate.

FABAG described the mandatory pre-export conformity verification regime for imported goods as an unnecessary burden on businesses already grappling with rising operating costs. The association questioned the rationale for introducing what it considers another layer of regulation when existing state institutions are already responsible for ensuring product quality and safety. According to FABAG, agencies including the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Standards Authority, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority already conduct inspections, testing, and quality assurance on imported goods. FABAG argued that if there are operational challenges within these institutions, they should be strengthened, not bypassed through the introduction of another costly program. The association maintained that the new program amounts to an additional financial burden on importers.