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Government ready
to improve domestic trade
Accra, Aug. 7, Ghanadot/GNA –
Government is to establish an International Trade Commission
that would investigate unfair trade practices in the country
to determine and grant appropriate remedies.
The establishment of the proposed Commission, which forms
part of a grand scheme of trade reform measures to make
Ghanaian products compete effectively with products from the
rest of the world, is already at an advanced stage ready for
policy approval before the end of the year.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of Trade, Industry, Private
Sector Development and President’s Special Initiatives,
announced the proposed reforms at a Council Meeting of the
Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) in Accra on Thursday.
He said the reforms would also include a new Consumer
Protection Policy with the establishment of a Consumer
Protection Authority, and modernization and revamping of
standards, quality assurance, accreditation and meteorology
infrastructure.
The Minister said the enhancement of domestic trade and
distribution was one of the priorities of the Ministry.
The Ministry has therefore launched the Domestic Trade and
Industrial Services Project to address some of the chronic
inefficiencies in domestic trade.
Already, the benefits of the trade reform undertaken so far
are practically realized in improved service delivery, time
for vehicle registration and driver licensing, business
registration, passport services and other areas that used to
perform very poorly.
Other reforms that have already taken place are a National
Medium Term Private Sector Development Strategy to provide a
level playing for the private sector, and the establishment
of a Commercial Court that have reduced delays at handling
commercial cases.
“Seventy-five per cent of cases before the commercial courts
are settled through mediation and transcripts of judgments
are available within 48 hours,” the Minister said.
He announced that the Ministry would improve the health and
sanitary conditions at 30 markets and 10 garages countrywide
as well as the operational environment of over 10,000
traders and artisans before the end of the year.
On the major problem of sourcing credit within the private
sector, Papa Owusu-Ankomah said: “I intend to call a Summit
Meeting of financial institutions and trade and industry
associations, including the employers’ association to find
financing solution that it makes more attractive for key
players in the domestic trade and distribution system to
trade in Ghanaian products.”
Mr Charles Cofie, President of the GEA, appealed to the
Minister to throw his weight behind its effort in countering
illicit trade and counterfeiting.
He further appealed to the Minister to support the private
sector to expand its horizon to increase the volume of trade
within the West Africa sub-region.
During an open forum, the participants appealed to
Government to adopt measures to reduce the time spent in
vehicular traffic as a way of improving national
productivity.
GNA
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