GEPA is on course to achieve USD 5.3 billion in export trade through digital innovation - CEO

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Madam Afua Asabea Asare have reemphasized the Authority’s commitment to achieve the USD 5.3 billion export trade target it has set by 2021. At a media launch of GEPA’s 50th Anniversary on Wednesday 7th May, 2019 hosted at their Export Trade House in Accra.

GEPA was established by the Ghana Export Authority Act of 1969 (NLCD 396) as an agency of the Ministry of Trade and Industry with the mandate to develop and promote Ghanaian exports. This was after consideration that the export of our traditional export commodities alone was not sustainable for Ghana as a country.

Madam Afua Asare intimated that her outfit is well on course in delivering on its core mandate as an export promotion authority.

“As an organisation, we have done considerably well by delivering on our mandate in the areas of trade facilitation with the public sector and non-governmental bodies, advocacy for organisations involved in exports, identifying products with export potentials and adapting them for exports, organising trade missions to aggressively penetrate the international market and last but not the least, our flagship training program – the export school which upgrades the skills of existing and potential exporters” she intimated.

The CEO further touted the giant strides they have made as an organisation under her leadership with the use of digital technological innovation which falls in line with the Nana Akufo-Addo led government’s agenda for ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. She boasted of GEPA’s current integrated database that captures the details of the stakeholders and clientele at just a click of a button at the organisation’s web portal (www.gepaghana.org).

This innovation have earned GEPA the coveted World Trade Promotion Organisation Award for the best use of Information Technology in 2018.

The special guest of honour for the occasion, Hon Robert Ahomka Lindsay, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Republic of Ghana, who led the media launch of the 50th Anniversary Celebration was quite impressed with the success story of GEPA as it mark’s it’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary but urged them to do more and explore the huge export potential of Ghana in attaining the government’s Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

Present at the occasion were the board chairman of GEPA, Mr Sandy Osei Agyemang, Past CEO’s, Representatives from Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Exim Bank, Shippers Authority, Export Associations, GEPA Management and Staff as well as other key stakeholders.