Ghana businesses urge President Mahama to halt new import inspection scheme over price fears

One of Ghana's leading business associations has called on President John Mahama to suspend a new import certification programme, warning that it will raise the cost of doing business, increase consumer prices and undermine efforts to improve the country's investment climate.

The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) said the Ghana Standards Authority's (GSA) Ghana EasyPASS Programme would impose new financial and administrative burdens on importers at a time when businesses are still recovering from recent economic shocks.

Under the Ghana EasyPASS Programme, selected imported goods must undergo inspection, testing and certification in their country of origin before being shipped to Ghana. The scheme is intended to ensure products comply with Ghana's technical regulations and quality standards before entering the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, FABAG appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama to suspend the programme before its implementation.

"Mr President, stop the Ghana Standards Authority's Ghana EasyPASS Conformity Programme before it hurts businesses and consumers," the association said.

FABAG argued that Ghana already has multiple agencies responsible for inspecting imported goods, including the Ghana Standards Authority, the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

The association said introducing another mandatory layer of conformity assessment would duplicate existing regulatory functions while increasing costs for businesses.

"This policy is simply adding another tax by another name," the statement said.

According to FABAG, importers would face additional certification fees, higher compliance costs and potential shipment delays before goods could be exported to Ghana. It warned that businesses would ultimately pass those costs on to consumers through higher retail prices.

The association also said companies continue to face significant financial pressures, including rising electricity and water tariffs, high lending rates, exchange rate volatility, expensive credit and increasing transport costs.

FABAG argued that introducing the programme contradicts the government's stated commitment to making Ghana a more attractive place to do business.

"Government cannot genuinely speak about improving the ease of doing business while simultaneously introducing measures that make doing business more expensive,"

Instead of creating a new certification regime, FABAG urged the government to strengthen the capacity of existing regulatory institutions to improve inspections and enforcement.

The association called on President Mahama to direct the Ghana Standards Authority to suspend the programme and begin broader consultations with businesses before any implementation.

It also urged importers, manufacturers, business associations and chambers of commerce to oppose policies they believe unnecessarily increase operating costs.

"The time has come for government to listen to the voice of businesses. Ghana needs policies that encourage enterprise, not policies that punish it," the association said.

The Ghana Standards Authority has introduced the EasyPASS Programme as part of efforts to improve product quality and ensure imported goods meet national standards. It has not yet publicly responded to FABAG's latest appeal.