Importers to produce certificate of conformity

From October 1, all importers are expected to produce a Certificate of Conformity (COC), a quality assurance document as a requirement for clearing goods at the ports.

The Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) would from that date ask importers to request suppliers and manufacturers overseas to engage accredited standards and quality assurance experts to certify goods which are Ghana bound.

Samson Awingobit Asaki, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Exports and Importers Association said all members should comply to lessen the frustrations they go through when clearing their goods.

He assured exporters and importers that their suppliers would pay for any cost associated with quality assurance and if any member was in doubt, his office should be contacted for help.

Mr Asaki appealed to the GSA to help exporters by charging minimal fees or charge nothing as their contribution to the country’s export drive.

Mr Asaki also thanked President John Dramani Mahama for accepting the grievances of exporters and importers; notable among them was the suspension of the Bank of Ghana’s foreign exchange rules which nearly marred the business of importers.

He also lauded the port authorities for withdrawing a directive that exporters and importers were to pre-fund refrigerated containers and said the Association had an open door policy and were looking forward to dialogue with the government and all stakeholders on pertinent issues.

Mr Asaki appealed to members to always channel their concerns through the Association for the necessary action to be taken.