The 3rd National E-Commerce Forum and Exhibition 2024

The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), in collaboration with GIZ Ghana and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), has successfully launched the Trust Seal Program at the 3rd National E-Commerce Forum and Exhibition 2024. The AGI Trust Seal Program was developed to address the trust deficit in online trading and aims to create a safer e-commerce environment for businesses and consumers across Ghana.

During the launch, the Master of Ceremonies highlighted that the program would encompass all e-commerce platforms and businesses operating within the country, regardless of their size or the nature of goods and services offered.

In his remarks, the Sector Head of AGI emphasized the importance of the Trust Seal Program as a strategic initiative aimed at protecting members who engage in online trade. AGI is committed to the growth of its member businesses and is excited to certify companies that meet the program's stringent requirements, ensuring consumers can engage in online transactions with confidence.

Mr. Emmanuel Mumuni, Team Lead for the Pan-African Leaders Initiative of GIZ Ghana, noted that this is a pan-African e-commerce initiative designed to foster trust within the sector. He added that the partnership with AGI was crucial due to its extensive reach and experience in working with businesses, while NITA's role as a key player in regulating Ghana's IT space added a strong foundation to the initiative. Mr. Mumuni expressed GIZ Ghana's excitement in supporting the successful rollout of the program.

A representative from NITA explained how the agency's involvement has been pivotal in bringing the initiative to fruition. NITA is responsible for implementing public key infrastructure that authenticates digital services and transactions, and it also facilitates the issuance of e-visas and the authentication of Ghana cards.

The representative further stressed NITA’s commitment to ensuring a trusted online trading environment through secure verification processes, thereby reducing fraudulent activities.

The unveiling of the Trust Seal was followed by two panel discussions. The first session featured representatives from PayBox, Blue Penguin, and Parle, all of whom operate platforms that facilitate online cross-border transactions. The panelists discussed how their systems have driven business growth, simplified transactions, and enabled scaling for companies. They also addressed the challenges their companies face and called on the government, consumers, and other stakeholders to collaborate in addressing these issues.

The second panel discussion brought together representatives from the Association of Licensed Courier Companies Ghana (ALCCG) and SWOOVE Ghana, focusing on logistics and delivery services in the e-commerce space. Panelists spoke candidly about the logistical challenges in Ghana’s delivery landscape and engaged with the audience in a lively Q&A session.

The event concluded on a positive note, with many business representatives expressing enthusiasm about participating in the Trust Seal Program, recognizing its potential to boost consumer confidence and drive growth in their online operations.