The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Ms Benonita Bismark is imploring exporters from the five regions of the north to add value to their products to enhance their competitiveness on the market in a forum organised by the authority in Tamale on the 28th of October, 2021 at Global Dream Hotel.
In a speech delivered on her behalf by deputy CEO, of Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Ms Sylvia Asana Dauda explained that the northern sector of the country is known to provide a lot of Non-Traditional Exports to generate foreign exchange for the country and it was therefore salient for the authority to organised the forum in Tamale “to bring shippers’ up to speed with the AfCFTA to enable them to take advantage of the opportunities’’.
To reiterate the CEO point of adding value to their product before export, the chairman of the forum, Mr Senyo Kpelly used his Shea business as an example, Tama cosmetics. He explained how he took the opportunity of adding value to his product which has enabled the Tama cosmetic to be recognised globally and he is benefiting from it more as compared to those who are not adding value to their product.
He also acknowledge the importance of the AfCFTA and called on his colleagues to embrace it fully since it is there to help everyone in the business.
The resource person for the forum, Mr Fechin Akoto, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs took the audience through the opportunities that the AfCFTA will present to people in the export and import business in Ghana and why everyone should endeavour to be part of it.
Also, he stated the procedures and regulations governing the AfCFTA and asked participants to go to any customs officers near them to enquire more about the regulations and procedure of AfCFTA should they need any assistant when they want to export or import.
Mr Akoto advised exporters and importers in the various regions to form associations so as to help them in fulfilling the requirement for the AfCFTA since that will be faster and easy for them than going individually to begin the process.
The forum which was under the theme African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Opportunities and Procedures was organised by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority. In attendance of the forum included importers and exporters from the traditional three regions of the north, Ghana police services, Customs, banks and other entities within the exports and imports business in the region.
