Private sector operators in Accra who had planned to close their shops and businesses on Wednesday over the Ghana Conformity Assessment Programme and the Advance Shipment information system (ASHI), have called off their demonstration.
[contextly_sidebar id=”7qpVZlik6UT3OGpKnyuupzaKks95KEyP”]The demonstration was called off due to an appeal by government to the group as it seeks to enter into negotiations with them on their grievances.
The group leading the protest; Joint Private Sector Consultative Business Forum consists of organised groups such as Ghana Union of Traders Association, GUTA, Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ghana Automobile Dealers Association and the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana.
The rest are the Importers and Exporters Association, Ghana Pharmaceutical Chamber, Association of Ghana Industries, Custom Brokers Association of Ghana and the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana.
The private sector businesses have vehemently opposed the introduction of the Ghana-Product Conformity Assessment Programme and the Advance Shipment Information System (ASHI) and a tax stamp by the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA).
According to them, the implementation of the G-CAP and ASHI will bring additional costs to businesses in Ghana.
Even though the government has suspended the introduction of ASHI and G-CAP, the Forum has called for the total abolition of the two programmes.
Speaking to Citi Business News, a leading member of the Joint Private Sector Consultative Business Forum John Awuni said all the member associations had taken the decision to call off the planned protest after government’s decision to begin negotiations with the group.
“The government has appealed to us to return to negotiations. The various programmes have been suspended so it is important for us to come back and dialogue. It is very clear that the consultations should have been done before decisions should have been taken. At this time it is important for us to suspend our action, dialogue, with the government as they have opened their doors,” he stated.
He however served notice that the group would embark on their threat to close down their businesses if negotiations break down and added that “if negotiations break down we will embark on a demonstration”.
By: Franklin Badu Jnr/citifmonline.com/Ghana
