The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has raised strong objections to the Ghana Standards Authority’s new EasyPass programme, warning that the mandatory pre‑export conformity verification system will impose additional costs on businesses and ultimately drive up consumer prices.
According to a news report cited on Citi Newsroom, FABAG argues that the EasyPass initiative amounts to “another tax by another name,” as importers will now be required to obtain certification before goods leave their country of origin. The association says this will lead to higher compliance fees, shipment delays, and duplication of roles already performed by agencies such as the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
FABAG insists that the programme will worsen the financial burden on businesses already struggling with high utility tariffs, volatile exchange rates, steep interest rates, and rising transport costs. These costs, the association warns, will inevitably be passed on to consumers, resulting in higher prices of imported goods, particularly food and beverages.
The association expressed surprise that government has revived a policy previously rejected after consultations with the business community. FABAG has therefore appealed directly to President John Mahama to suspend the programme and initiate dialogue with the private sector. It maintains that if existing regulatory institutions face operational challenges, they should be strengthened rather than bypassed with a new costly scheme.
FABAG cautions that the EasyPass programme risks undermining government’s pledge to improve the ease of doing business and could discourage investment, reduce competitiveness, and strain employment.
