In an effort to improve the export value chains of cassava, fruits and cosmetics in Ghana, the European Union has launched the 6.35 million Euros West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) to boost trade opportunities.

Currently being overseen by Ghana, the programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). It is expected to build competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses to increase the export value chains of cassava, fruits and cosmetics, the Daily Graphic has reported.

During a stakeholder engagement for business associations and members in Accra, Charles Kwame Sackey, Chief Technical Advisor of WACOMP reaffirmed that the overall objective of the programme is to strengthen the competitiveness of an export strategy to enable a robust ECOWAS regional and international trade integration.

“With this programme, businesses operating in the three value chains will be able to export to the European and world markets if they met the required international standards,” Sackey adds.

According to Mr Sackey, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) would be supported to receive international accreditation for the certification of products to be exported the world markets.

The National Coordinator of One District, One Factory, Gifty Ohene-Konadu Kuffour described the WACOMP programme as a rather important one that would strongly link the private sector to the international and regional trade markets.

Some 114 companies are expected to benefit from the WACOMP programme in all specific three value chains for cassava, fruits and cosmetics.