GIPC to review trade laws – Yofi Grant

Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), has said that the Centre is looking at reforming its laws to make Ghana comparatively competitive in the sub-region without compromising either the political economy or productive base.

He said this during a seven-member panel discussion on operationalizing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) in Ghana held on the sidelines of the just-ended three-day National Conference on the implementation of the AfCTA Agreement in Ghana.

He said: “We are looking at the review of our laws to have harmony between all the multilateral and bilateral laws in Ghana such that there is no conflict and it is easier for business to freely invest in Ghana”.

Allaying the fears of local businesses regarding the implementation of the AfCTA, Mr Grant also assured that the implementation of the AfCTA will create significant opportunities and make them more competitive and well-positioned for the global market.

Members of the panel included Professor Alex Dodoo, Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority; Afua Asabea Asare, CEO of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA); Connell Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Frank Agyekum, Executive Secretary of the Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC); Mimi Darko, CEO of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA); and Micheal Okyere Baafi, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA).

It chaired by Professor Stephen Adei, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).

The purpose of the Conference is to bring together key stakeholders in Ghana to discuss national strategies and programme interventions to harness the benefits of the AfCFTA.

The theme was “harnessing the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area for a Ghana Beyond Aid”.