- New Import Verification Regime Risks Hurting Investment Climate – FABAG
A fresh confrontation is emerging between Ghana’s business community and policymakers after the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana called for the suspension of the newly introduced Ghana Easy Pass Programme, warning that the import verification regime could raise business costs, increase consumer prices and weaken investor confidence.
The association argues that the mandatory pre-export conformity verification system for imported goods risks becoming another layer of cost in an already expensive business environment.
According to FABAG, the programme will impose additional certification fees, administrative expenses and documentation requirements on importers before goods are shipped to Ghana. These costs, the association warns, are likely to be transferred to consumers through higher retail prices.
The group says the policy comes at a difficult time for businesses, many of which are still dealing with elevated borrowing costs, utility tariff adjustments, exchange-rate volatility, transport costs and weak consumer purchasing power.
For the food and beverages sector, where imported inputs and finished products play an important role, any increase in compliance costs could quickly affect pricing, margins and supply-chain planning.
FABAG’s central concern is that the Ghana Easy Pass Programme duplicates functions already performed by existing state agencies.
The association says institutions such as the Ghana Standards Authority, the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority already play defined roles in product inspection, quality assurance, import compliance, valuation, revenue mobilisation and port clearance.
Rather than introduce a new verification layer, FABAG believes government should strengthen the operational capacity of these existing agencies to make them more efficient, better coordinated and more responsive to industry needs.
The association’s position reflects a broader frustration among importers over what they see as overlapping regulatory requirements at the ports. Businesses have long complained that multiple checks, fees and documentation processes increase the cost of trade and slow the movement of goods.
FABAG warned that the new import verification arrangement could delay shipments, complicate compliance and create fresh uncertainty for companies that depend on predictable supply chains.
The group also questioned the consistency of government’s policy direction.
It argued that a government seeking to improve the ease of doing business, attract investment and support private-sector growth cannot simultaneously introduce measures that increase compliance costs and regulatory uncertainty.
That contradiction, the association believes, could undermine the credibility of broader reforms aimed at making Ghana a more competitive investment destination.
The warning is particularly significant because the government has been making efforts to restore macroeconomic stability, reduce inflationary pressures and rebuild investor confidence.
FABAG argues that any policy that increases the landed cost of imported goods could work against these objectives by feeding into consumer prices and raising operating costs for businesses.
In an economy where inflation expectations remain sensitive to fuel prices, exchange-rate movements, taxes, utility tariffs and import costs, additional trade-related charges could have wider consequences beyond the food and beverages industry.
The association also recalled that similar conformity verification proposals had previously faced strong resistance from the business community after stakeholder consultations. It said the revival of the policy, despite earlier objections, has made the current dispute more contentious.
FABAG has therefore appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama to suspend implementation of the Ghana Easy Pass Programme and direct the Ghana Standards Authority to reopen consultations with industry stakeholders.
The association says it is not opposed to product standards, consumer protection or quality assurance. Its objection is to the creation of what it considers an unnecessary and costly additional compliance mechanism.
For FABAG, the better route is a system that protects consumers without imposing avoidable costs on businesses or creating duplication among regulatory agencies.
The dispute highlights a recurring challenge in Ghana’s trade policy environment: how to balance legitimate regulatory oversight with the need to maintain a competitive, predictable and investment-friendly business climate.
Governments have a responsibility to prevent the importation of substandard goods, protect consumers and ensure that products entering the market meet approved standards. But businesses also need regulations that are efficient, transparent and affordable.
When regulatory systems become too costly or duplicative, the burden often moves from importers to consumers, while smaller businesses with weaker cash flows are pushed further into difficulty.
The Ghana Easy Pass dispute therefore goes beyond one programme. It raises deeper questions about regulatory coordination, port efficiency, trade facilitation and the cost of doing business.
For consumers, the immediate concern is price. If importers face higher costs, retail prices could rise, especially for food, beverages and other fast-moving consumer goods that already face pressure from logistics and currency-related costs.
For businesses, the concern is predictability. Investors and importers require clear rules, stable compliance processes and confidence that new policies will not suddenly increase costs or delay operations.
For government, the issue is credibility. A policy designed to improve standards must not be seen by industry as a revenue-raising measure or an additional burden disguised as trade facilitation.
A suspension and fresh round of consultations could create room for compromise, allowing policymakers to refine the programme, remove duplications and address industry concerns. Proceeding without stronger stakeholder buy-in, however, could deepen mistrust between businesses and regulators.
At a time when Ghana’s economic recovery depends heavily on private-sector confidence, the controversy is a reminder that reforms must be judged not only by their intentions, but by their impact on costs, prices, investment and competitiveness.
For FABAG, Ghana Easy Pass in its current form fails that test. For government, the task now is to prove that regulatory reform can strengthen consumer protection without weakening the business environment it is trying to improve.
