Food Industry Urges Mahama to Kill Ghana Easy Pass Import Scheme

Business Group Opposes New Import Verification Regime

The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama to suspend the Ghana Easy Pass Programme, a mandatory pre-export conformity verification scheme for imported goods. The association argues the policy will increase operational costs for importers and ultimately raise consumer prices at a time when businesses are already struggling with rising expenses.

FABAG contends the new regime duplicates work already performed by established state institutions. The Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority currently inspect and test imported products. The association questions why government would introduce another layer of bureaucracy rather than strengthen existing institutions facing operational challenges.

The group warns the programme will impose substantial additional costs on importers, including certification fees, administrative expenses, shipment delays, and compliance burdens before products leave their countries of origin. "These costs will inevitably be passed on to the Ghanaian consumer through higher prices," FABAG stated, describing the policy as "simply adding another tax by another name."

FABAG argues the timing is particularly damaging. Businesses are still recovering from previous regulatory reforms whilst managing rising utility tariffs, high interest rates, exchange rate volatility, expensive transport, and costly borrowing. The association emphasises that introducing additional regulatory costs contradicts government's stated objectives of improving ease of doing business and reducing inflation.

The association noted that similar conformity verification programmes were previously rejected by the business community following consultations. FABAG has called on the President to direct the Ghana Standards Authority to withdraw the policy and engage in fresh consultations with the private sector.