Accra: Ghanaian businesses could miss out on opportunities in the Chinese market if the government does not make export registration and certification faster, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has cautioned. The Association is urging that all product registration and approval processes for exporters be completed within one month.
According to Ghana Web, Executive Secretary of the Association, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, highlighted that exporters currently face challenges dealing with several government agencies before obtaining the necessary documents to export their products. He emphasized that these delays could hinder Ghanaian businesses from benefiting from China's decision to grant Ghana 100% market access.
Speaking at a High-Level Ghana-China Zero Tariff Policy Roundtable, Awingobit proposed the creation of a single digital platform where exporters can submit their documents for processing by all relevant agencies. He remarked, 'Going to government agencies to do registration of a product should not take you more than one month. We should not be moving from one office to another office.'
Exporters may have to interact with multiple agencies, including the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, and Plant Quarantine Division, depending on the product. Awingobit believes that integrating these agencies on one platform would reduce delays and facilitate easier exporting.
Furthermore, he identified access to finance as a significant obstacle, particularly for young people and small businesses looking to export. He urged banks to provide suitable financing for export businesses and called on the government to introduce incentives to encourage more young individuals to enter the export sector.