The Ghana Importers and Exporters Association has accused destination inspection companies of pushing for the implementation of the Ghana Conformity Assessment Programme (G-CAP) by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
According to the Importers and Exporters Association who have kicked against the G – CAP, the destination inspection companies are using the implementation of the G – CAP to keep them in business, since government, according to them will not renew their contracts in 2015.
“As a business community we are humbly advising the government that there is something wrong somewhere. The inspection companies as we are told are the people who presented the proposal to the GSA but not the GSA coming up with this programme.”
The Importers and Exporters Association tell Citi Business News they believe the inspection destination companies are behind the introduction of the G-CAP, and contend the programme is a duplication of efforts by various agencies at the country’s entry points to check the importation of sub-standard goods.
According to them, its introduction will only increase the cost of doing business and also add to the complexity of clearing goods at the ports.
G-CAP is a conformity assessment process used to verify that products imported to Ghana meet the necessary standards as set by the GSA.
Spokesperson for the Ghana Importers and Exporters Association John Awuni told Citi Business News that the G-CAP is a duplication and it is illegal.
“For the Destination Inspection Companies they want to make money and for us because the contract between the government and the destination companies is expiring in 2015 and the government has indicated that they are not going to renew the contract, they are just repackaging themselves to remain relevant in the system. For me it is just a business model by the destination inspection companies to make money from the business community and from government.”
By: Norvan Acquah – Hayford/citifmonline.com/Ghana