FABAG Calls on President John Mahama to Suspend Ghana Easy Pass Programme Over Rising Cost Concerns
The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has called on to immediately suspend the newly introduced Ghana Easy Pass Programme, warning that the policy could significantly increase the cost of doing business and drive up prices for consumers across the country.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, 2026, the association expressed strong opposition to the Ghana Standards Authority’s (GSA) decision to make pre-export conformity assessment mandatory for selected goods imported into Ghana. According to FABAG, the new import verification system introduces an additional regulatory layer that places unnecessary financial and administrative burdens on businesses already operating under difficult economic conditions.
The association argued that Ghana already has well-established state institutions responsible for ensuring the safety, quality, and standards of imported products. These include the , the , the , and the . Rather than introducing a new programme, FABAG believes government should invest in strengthening the operational capacity of these existing institutions if improvements are needed.
“It is difficult to understand why government would seek to impose another layer of bureaucracy and cost on importers when existing regulatory institutions are already adequately mandated to ensure product safety and standards,” the association stated.
FABAG further warned that the Ghana Easy Pass Programme would require importers to pay additional certification fees, complete conformity assessments before shipments leave their countries of origin, and endure possible delays in the import process. The association noted that these extra compliance costs would inevitably be transferred to consumers through higher prices of goods on the market.
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The group stressed that businesses are still struggling to recover from previous regulatory reforms while facing numerous economic challenges, including high electricity and water tariffs, elevated interest rates, exchange rate volatility, and increasing transportation costs. Introducing another costly compliance system at this time, it said, could weaken the competitiveness of businesses and further strain the economy.
FABAG also recalled that similar conformity assessment proposals had previously been rejected after extensive consultations with the private sector, making the reintroduction of the policy particularly surprising. The association believes the concerns that led to the earlier rejection remain unresolved.
Consequently, FABAG has appealed directly to President Mahama to intervene by directing the Ghana Standards Authority to suspend the Ghana Easy Pass Programme and engage stakeholders in fresh consultations. The association maintains that meaningful dialogue between government and the business community is essential to developing policies that protect consumers without placing excessive financial pressure on importers and the wider economy.
