GEPA, GSB to ensure standards certification for Ghanaian exports

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is collaborating with the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) to bridge the global gap by ensuring sanitary and phytosanitary standards certification for Ghanaian exporters.

Officials say it will ensure that Ghanaian products will be competitive in the international market.
Similarly, a mandatory approach to ensure bar codes under the national traceability system was also being sought to ensure that all exporters are registered with the authority.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the authority, Dr Kwadwo Owusu-Agyemang, said this at the launch of the 72nd exporters forum and the 2010 Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) statistics in Accra.

The programme, which brought together stakeholders from the export and shipping sectors also saw the launch the 2010 export awards event slated for October, 21,2011.

According to him, the NTEs recorded a growth rate of 27 per cent of the total national export revenue mobilisation from other sectors was geared towards achieving some $5 billion by 2016.

“Our focus is therefore on the three main sub-sectors such as agriculture, processed and semi processed timber products and handicrafts to ensure that set targets are achieved,” Dr Owusu-Agyemang said.

He said a review of the NTE sector revealed that the sector was currently driven by the value added products with a very strong supply base such as cocoa and timber, and if better exploited would go to improve the government’s revenue target.

Dr Owusu-Agyemang expressed optimism that the added service portfolio such as service export which had been added to its list of the NTEs would go to enhance the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while aiding development.

Source: Daily Graphic