Linda Osei-Kyeremanteng, Country Manager, Government Service and International Trade, Bureau Veritas, making her presentation
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) recently held a stakeholder forum on EasyPASS, its newly introduced conformity assessment programme aimed at fast-tracking the clearance of goods to ensure conformity to standards.
GSA has appointed Bureau Veritas to carry out the verification process worldwide and deliver the EasyPASS certificate in conformity with the standards which will ensure that imported products are verified before they are brought in.
Professor Alex Dodoo, Director-General of the GSA, said government is committed to making the clearance of goods at the ports as easy and stress-free as possible.
“Government wants importers and the trading public to get goods out of our ports in record time. The aim of the Port Efficiency programme is to be sure that the frustration to importers, the delays at the ports is reduced to the barest minimum, and that you get your goods out in record time, regardless of how you do it,” he said.
Prof Dodoo said government had decided to limit the responsibility for inspection of goods at the ports to three agencies- the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Customs.
Linda Osei-Kyeremanteng, Country Manager, Government Service and International Trade at Bureau Veritas, said the programme, which is mainly about conformity assessment, is also a trade facilitation tool that enhances smooth operations for the clearance of goods at the port for importers and exporters.
Ms Kyeremanteng said Bureau Veritas has offices in all the major importing locations in the world to examine and send GSA the report.
“We have equipment and sophisticated machines to examine these products. Upon arrival in Ghana, there will just be inspection of the certificate,” she added.
Dr Joseph Obeng, President of GUTA, said GSA should respect the rights of importers and exporters.
He said GUTA would not allow its members to be compelled to move onto the EasyPASS platform, saying the association would resist such attempts to frustrate members who decide to use the normal system.
He said GUTA would educate members on the importance of the certificate of conformity to ensure that they undertake hassle-free clearance at the ports.