Standards Authority To Check Imports With EasyPass

The Ghana Standards Authority has told Citi Business News it will go ahead with the implementation of its EasyPass program from next month.

The GSA, earlier suspended the implementation of its EasyPass program which is aimed at ensuring that some selected products imported into Ghana, meet the required standards to protect public health and safety.

The Authority said the suspension was to allow for further engagement with stakeholders.

But speaking to Citi Business News, the Director of Communications at the Ghana Standard Authority, Dr. Kofi Amponsah Bediako, said the GSA has the support of all relevant trade stakeholders, hence will implement the EasyPass program from 1st May 2018.

“The program begins on the 1st of May; that date has been fixed because we have already consulted the various trade associations and these associations are united under the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA). Our management and board members met them.”

Dr. Kofi Amponsah Bediako went on to outline how the program will be implemented, stating that it will ultimately benefit all importers who come on board.

“Initially the program will be voluntary; importers who however come on board will have their goods cleared quicker if it is ascertained that their goods are of good quality.”

The EasyPass programme when successful, will ensure that regulated imported products are verified before they are exported to Ghana.

Meanwhile the importers and exporters who will be affected by the Easy Pass Programme say they have not been consulted by the GSA, hence will kick against the programme.

Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Assaki Awingobit in an interview with Citi Business News said the GSA has failed to consult them on the programme even after it was initially suspended.

“I met with members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association and they told me that the GSA authorities told them they want to introduce the EasyPass and that they would meet with them to discuss the details of its implementation. But till date, there has been no stake holder consultation with any of us which is not fair. My point is if it is a good policy for the country, there should still be stake holder consultation with the relevant stakeholders before its implementation”.