The Private Enterprise Federation (PEF) has stated that businesses will be able to acquire permits and other relevant documents faster and easier with the completion of its draft Service delivery charters.
According to PEF, most businesses face a major issue of permit acquisition delays which stifles their productivity.
A research work commissioned by PEF revealed that there were undue delays in the acquisition of permits, licenses and certificates.
In some cases, the acquisition process which was supposed to be completed in a week took several months to complete.
Also, a further study by PEF showed that the Service Delivery Charters that guide the operations of these administering agencies are either outdated or none-existent.
While delivering the findings at a one day workshop to validate draft Service Delivery Charters of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Town and Country Planning Department of Factory, Offices and Shops Inspectorate of Ghana, Consultant Clara Kasser -Tee said per the research findings the issue stems out of administrative corruption.
“The fact is that there are delays and when there are delays private persons get apprehensive and they want it done quickly so they are willing to give out money to get the process done quickly. By this they become participants of corruption” she explained.
President of the Private Enterprise Federation Nana Osei Bonsu speaking to Citi Business News said the absence and or ineffectiveness of these Service Delivery Charters largely contribute to the delays witnessed in the process of acquiring permits, licenses and certificates.
He added that delays and other obstacles associated with the acquisition of these permits, licenses and certificates add to the cost of doing business and also affects Ghana’s Position in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking.
“If the system was efficient and you could do it from home you would not have to interface with anybody. So, we are looking at the efficiency and the delivery of this service based upon the charges that the agencies themselves have put together.” He said.
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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana.