DECENTRALIZE ADMINISTRATION TO EASE COST OF BUSINESS-MDAsTOLD

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Businesses operating in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions are calling for effective decentralization of some administrative functions of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the regions to enhance the cost of doing business.

According to these businesses, the practice where their officials have to travel to the national capital, Accra, to transact almost every aspect of operation starting from registration to renewal of permit is not only risky, but also negatively affecting the cost of doing business in the country. 

These sentiments were expressed in Kumasi during a Forum of Chief Executive Officers of Free Zone enterprises in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo region.

 The forum, which was at the instance of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, is part of the Authority’s initiatives to engage with business enterprises operating within the Free Zones policy. 

The forum provided a platform for some essential state agencies such as the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Standards Authority and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, GRA, to update the participants on the statutory regulations governing the Free Zones industry to engender mutual trust, cooperation and compliance. 

In a presentation, the Free Zones Desk Officer of the Ghana Immigration Service, Madam Doris Ofosua Agyemang, emphasized that it is mandatory for any foreigner seeking to do business in the country to first obtain Residence and Work Permit before the start of work. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Michael Okyere Baafi, disclosed that the Authority has opened its first branch office in Kumasi to serve free zones enterprises in the northern sector of the country. 

He informed the participants also about the upward review of some charges and penalties against non-adherence to regulations of free zones businesses. 

Mr. Baafi hinted that 'Steps are being taken amend portions of the existing Free Zones Act to make the law relevant to the changing times.' 

During the open forum session of the event, even though the participants commended the Ghana Free Zones Authority for the series of engagements with players in the industry as well as for improving some aspects of the Authority’s operations and relationship with the companies in recent times, they raised issues with the complex nature of some of the laws regarding the sector and also the requirements for them to make routine trips to Accra to formalize part of their operations. 
 'We like the relationship we have with the Free Zones Authority now. What needs to be worked on is the over concentration of administrative duties from registration to renewal of business in the national capital", Madam Stella Owusu-Ansah, Logistics Manager of Olam Cocoa told Ashanti Today later in an interview.








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