Entrepreneur calls for implementation of ECOWAS Trade protocols

Koforidua, July 28, GNA - Mr Charles Ocran, Managing Director of Intravenous Infusions, a pharmaceutical company in Ghana, has called for the implementation of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols relating to trade. He said the implementation of the protocol was necessary to enable private industries and entrepreneurs to trade with countries in the sub-region without any barrier or difficulty. Mr Ocran who was speaking to a team of Journalists, who visited his

company as part of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Business advocacy project, said despite the existence of ECOWAS protocol that encouraged trading among member states, Nigeria still ran a policy that prohibits pharmaceutical imports from Ghana. "This policy is a major challenge to pharmaceutical companies in Ghana as far as trade and business is concerned considering the large market opportunity that Nigeria offers". Intravenous Infusions, a private owned enterprise established in 1970, manufactures intravenous fluids. It is one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in West Africa.

Mr Ocran said his company was embarking on a five million-dollar expansion programme over a five-year period to meet the huge demands of its products, following the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme which had increased hospital attendance. The team later visited some small scale enterprises, including dressmaking and tailoring shops, carpentry works, and wine and soap manufacturing.