The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has begun full implementation of the Easypass Program.
The Easypass program, according to the GSA begun on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 after it was suspended due to lack of stakeholder consultation.
Director, Public Relations Department at the GSA, Dr. Kofi Amponsah Bediako tells Citi Business News that some stakeholders have signed unto the program.
“We started the announcement to our stakeholders thinking that the implementation of the easy pass program begins on the 1st of May, 2018 so it has already commenced. I am aware of a few companies that have signed unto the program so the program as I speak to you has started” he said.
He however maintains that it is voluntary to businesses.
“But as I told you, it is voluntary so if people have not registered now, maybe they can make up their mind later and then sign unto it. It is going to get rid of substandard products and prevent them from entering this country” he added.
The EasyPass program is aimed at ensuring that some selected products imported into Ghana, meet the required standards to protect public health and safety.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Assaki Awingobit has called on the GSA to make the program compulsory for all stakeholders to ensure the quality of products imported are safe.
“I think that it should not be voluntary, I think that it should be about standardization. If the Standards Authority is serious to know that truly there are some substandard products coming into this country, then I expect them to be prepared to take action. They must be prepared to protect the consumer and do better for the country” he stressed.
He added that compelling all stakeholders will be a sure way of having confidence in products imported into the country.
“I call for all goods imported into the country to be under the easy pass program and not voluntary” he said.