Food and Beverages Association of Ghana rejects Ghana Easy Pass
Gov’t cannot talk ease of doing business while adding more costs – FABAG rejects Ghana Easy Pass
The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has mounted strong opposition to the Ghana Standards Authority’s new Ghana Easy Pass Programme.
It warned that the policy will increase the cost of doing business, raise consumer prices and undermine the government’s pledge to improve the business climate.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, the association described the mandatory pre-export conformity verification regime for imported goods as an unnecessary burden on businesses already grappling with rising operating costs.
FABAG said it “expresses its strongest condemnation of the decision by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to introduce the Ghana Easy Pass Programme, a mandatory pre-export conformity verification regime for imported products destined for Ghana.”
The association questioned the rationale for introducing what it considers another layer of regulation, when existing state institutions are already responsible for ensuring product quality and safety.
“It is difficult to understand why government would seek to impose another layer of bureaucracy and cost on importers when existing regulatory institutions are already adequately mandated to ensure product safety and standards,” the statement said.
According to FABAG, agencies including the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Standards Authority, the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority already conduct inspections, testing and quality assurance on imported goods.
“If there are operational challenges within these institutions, they should be strengthened, not bypassed through the introduction of another costly programme,” it argued.
The association maintained that the new programme amounts to an additional financial burden on importers.
“This policy is simply adding another tax by another name,” FABAG said, explaining that businesses would now be required to pay additional certification fees, incur extra administrative expenses, face shipment delays and absorb higher compliance costs before goods leave their countries of origin.
It warned that “these costs will inevitably be passed on to the Ghanaian consumer through higher prices.”
FABAG said businesses are still struggling to recover from previous regulatory reforms and rising operating expenses.
“The ordinary Ghanaian will pay the price. Businesses have barely recovered from the introduction of the AI Publican system and other regulatory reforms that have significantly increased compliance obligations.”
It added that recent increases in electricity and water tariffs, high interest rates, exchange rate volatility, rising transport costs and expensive borrowing have already placed enormous pressure on the private sector.
“The private sector cannot continue to absorb an endless stream of new costs without serious consequences for investment, employment and consumer prices.”
The association also expressed disappointment that government had revived a policy it said businesses overwhelmingly rejected during previous consultations.
“What is even more surprising is that the business community overwhelmingly rejected similar conformity verification programmes in the past after extensive consultations… We therefore find it regrettable that government seeks to revive a policy that businesses have consistently opposed.”
FABAG further challenged the government’s policy direction.
“Government cannot genuinely speak about improving the ease of doing business while simultaneously introducing measures that make doing business more expensive.”
It added: “Government cannot seek to reduce inflation while introducing policies that directly increase the cost of imported raw materials and finished products. Government cannot encourage investment while creating additional layers of regulatory costs and uncertainty.”
The association appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama to halt the programme.
“FABAG respectfully calls on His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama to intervene immediately and suspend the implementation of the Ghana Easy Pass Programme.”
It urged the President to direct the Ghana Standards Authority to withdraw the policy and engage the business community in consultations on alternatives that protect consumers without imposing avoidable costs.
The association also called on business groups, importers, manufacturers and distributors to unite against policies that increase the cost of doing business.
“The time has come for government to listen to the voice of businesses. Our economy does not need more bureaucracy! Our businesses do not need more costs! Our consumers do not need higher prices! Ghana needs policies that encourage enterprise, not policies that punish it. THIS IS BECOMING TOO MUCH!”
