Export Promotion in Ghana Importing goods from Ghana can be quite undemanding as long as you are ready to follow the country’s legal procedures. The procedures are made simpler by a number of organisations that usually help foreigners in buying Ghanaian produce. Some of the organisations include: 1. Ghana National Procurement Agency Limited (GNPAL) GNPAL was established in the year 1976. The agency is charged with the responsibility of purchasing produce within and without Ghana and distributing them to relevant destinations. Some of the items bought and distributed by GNLAP include cooking oil, sugar, cocoa, and rice. Due to the competitive business environment in Ghana, the GNLAP has amended both its mission statement and corporate plan in order to stay afloat in the export industry. The agency intends to major in the exportation of non-traditional goods so as to offer the best services to its clients. 2. Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) The GEPC concerns itself with developing and promoting the exportation of non-traditional products. It plays a major role in offering technical assistance to clients at the enterprise level in training, production, and marketing. It also offers general advisory services and guidance to its clientele. For more information about GEPC you can visit http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/information/public-service-directory/403--ghana-export-promotion-council. 3. Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce was founded on 8th November in the year 1961 under a Parliament Act known as Executive Instrument No.196. It comprises of various commercial industries, firms, and business operators with the aim of developing and promoting importation and exportation of various goods in Ghana. For more information, please visit http://www.ghanachamber.org/website/. 4. Ghana Cocoa Board The Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) was established in the year 1947 by governmental ordinance. The statutory public board acts as the central administrative body of all the organisations in charge of operating and servicing various aspects of Ghana’s cocoa industry. Apart from handling very important responsibilities such as encouraging the production coffee and cocoa, the Ghana Cocoa Board also concerns itself with securing the most favourable procedures for the certification, grading, sealing, purchase, and export of both cocoa and coffee. It also promotes and facilitates scientific research in Ghana aimed at improving the quality of cash crops such as cocoa and coffee to ensure that they are suitable for export. The board remains one of the most useful public organisations managed by both the people and government of Ghana. 5. The Precious Minerals Marketing Company Limited (PMMCL) The Precious Minerals Marketing Company Limited was founded in the year 1963. The company mainly deals in buying and marketing Ghana’s precious minerals such as gold and diamonds. The company does its major operations in its head office which is found in Diamond House building in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. PMMCL is known to help both foreign and local entrepreneurs in the exportation and importation of precious minerals in Ghana. Most of its jewellery items have wonderful traditional African designs. More information concerning PMMLC is available at http://www.allfromghana.com/companies/userprofile/preciousm.
6. Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters
The Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) is a private company that was founded in the year 1992. It is made up of 13 different product associations that are categorised into 6 groups of agriculture, metals, fisheries, handcrafts, food crops, and forest products.
The 3 main objectives of Federation of Association of Ghanaian exporters include:
Serving the interests of all members and to work toward improving the export and export environments. Creating and encourage the growth as well as the diversification of Ghanaian export commodities to foreign markets. Taking all issues concerning exports into consideration and making suggestions to the Ghanaian government and concerned foreign entities. All the objectives are meant to boost transactions between various production firms in Ghana and their foreign/global partners.
7. Ghana Museums & Monuments Board
The Ghana Museums & Monuments Board (GMMB) was established in the year 1957. Since its inception, it has continued to act as the official custodian of Ghana’s treasured cultural heritage. Some of its main responsibilities include:
Facilitating and controlling the sale, export, and import of Ghana’s cultural heritage such as antiques and sculptures by issuing legal permits and licenses. Establishing and managing new museums in Ghana. Creating a National Register and maintaining inventory of both movable and immovable cultural materials in Ghana. For more information about The Ghana Museums & Monuments Board, you can visit the board’s website at
http://www.ghanamuseums.org/functions-activities.php.
8. Timber Industry Development Division Development
The Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) was founded in the early 1960s. Its main duty is to regulate the import and export of wood and timber products in Ghana. In order to ensure the smooth exportation and/or importation of timber products, TIDD does the following:
Inspects and grades the quality of timber. Provides important market information to both exporters and importers of timber products within and without Ghana. Issuance of timber export permits and licenses. More details are available at
http://www.fcghana.org/page.php?page=46§ion=22&typ=1&subs=253
9. Ghana Standards Board
The Ghana Standards Board (GSB) was established in the year 1973 by the Standards Decree, NRCD. The board maintains the standards of acceptable goods and services in Ghana. Other responsibilities include:
Improving the level of production and standards in both commerce and industry. Issuance of permits for the exportation of fresh and processed fish. Improve high standards of safety, welfare, and health for both manufactures and consumers of all services and goods. Copyright gepcghana.com 2010 All Rights Reserved |