Ghana drafts National Quality Policy
Ghana has drafted a coordinated National Quality Policy, to improve the international competitiveness of Ghana and foster its export performance.
The policy would also protect its consumers and environment from counterfeited and unsafe products.
The 24-page document when approved by cabinet would ensure availability of safe products and services to consumers; ensure that goods imported into and exported from Ghana are designed, manufactured, packaged, labelled and supplied according to the requirements in the local and export markets.
It also establishes a common approach to the regulatory framework and legislation in Ghana to safeguard the people, the fauna and flora and the environment whilst defining the framework for the development and publication of national standards and the establishment of conformity assessment providers, amongst others.
The Trade Related Assistance and Quality Enabling Programme (TRAQUE), funded by the European Union (EU), supported the Ministry of Trade and Industry to boost the National Quality Infrastructure with a substantial and comprehensive National Quality Policy.
Speaking at a workshop, Mr Ebenezer Padi Adjirackor, Director, Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry said the policy is based on analysis and wide consultation with stakeholders.
He said the exercise has been carried out over seven years, starting with a report on Standards, Quality Assurance and Metrology commissioned by the Ministry in 2008 followed by a review of the quality infrastructure of Ghana leading to a comprehensive report and a draft in 2009.
He noted that the policy has been reviewed with regard to the changes in the general quality infrastructure over the period, spanning 2009 to 2015.
The review was conducted with inputs from key stakeholders including ECOWAS Commission and the West African Quality System Programme office taking cognizance of the West African Quality Policy.
He acknowledged the contribution of Development Partners, especially UNIDO and the EU for supporting the Ministry with resources to conduct thorough research and extensive consultations for the development of the Policy.
Mr Ignacio Burrull, Head of Cooperation of the European Delegation to Ghana, said the EU is promoting trade all over the world because of the thinking that trade could lead to more development and more pro-poor growth.
It was in this direction that the EU decided to support Ghana through the TRAQUE programme to improve its quality infrastructure and to develop and adopt its own National Quality Policy, he said.
Source: GNA