Made in Ghana products which are not embossed with the made in Ghana logo will soon not qualify for export.
The move according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry forms part of efforts to promote made in Ghana products on both local and international markets.
The logo which was launched in April 2015 is meant to help consumers identify genuine and authentic made in Ghana products and thus help promote them.
Business seeking approval to use the logo are expected to among other things make payment to the Ghana Standards Authority for the processing of application, annual user license and marking fee depending on the category of the business.
In an interview with Citi Business News, Head of Domestic Trade and Distribution at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Doris Asetena Mensah urged local businesses who are into export to affix the stamps on their goods.
“We are appealing to businesses to come to the Ministry of Trade and Industry to have the made in Ghana logo affixed on their goods. At the ministry we work together with Ghana Standards Authority to have the made in Ghana logo fixed on products, the logo is then a sign of quality and excellence. If you have it on your products it can go anywhere for export and very soon it will be a requirement when you want to export any made in Ghana product”.
Qualifying Criteria
A business seeking approval to use the MiG Logo shall meet the following requirements:
1. Be registered as a business with the Registrar General’s Department.
2. Provide clearance letter from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust
3. Provide clearance certificate/letter from the Ghana Revenue Authority
4. Provide License from relevant regulatory authority.
5. Provide Product Certificate(s) from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
6. Have in place a relevant management system(s) verifiable by the Ghana Standards
Authority.
7. Agree to terms and conditions by signing a MiG logo service contract.
8. Make payment to the GSA for the processing of application, annual user license and
marking fee depending on the category of the business.
6. Withdrawal of the Use of Logo
The above regulations are the standards that pertain to the use of the logo.
Any of the following practices will account for its withdrawal;
1. Distribution of the logo to third party/unauthorized individuals or companies
2. Production of sub-standard products and services
3. Non-payment of fees for the renewal of license to use the logo
4. Default in trading regulations (tax evasion, etc.)
5. Established complaints from clients/consumers of the quality and safety of product.
6. Failure to renew any licenses and certificates required under clause 5 above.