The President of the Aburi Craft Village, Nana Krobea Asante, has appealed to the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) to advocate for the removal of non-tariff barriers affecting the growth of their export business.
He mentioned police harassment in the transportation of logs from the forest, extortion at the ports of exit by regulatory and supervisory agencies and other shipment challenges as some of the barriers artisans of the Craft Village have to endure in their bid to promote crafts for exports.
The president made the appeal on 14th February,2020 when the GSA visited the Aburi Craft Village as part of its shipper visitation and outreach to the Eastern Region to engage exporters and importers on their business concerns.
In response, the Tema Branch Manager of the GSA, Mrs. Monica Josiah assured the handicraft exporters of raising their concerns with the police service and other agencies for redress.
She added that the GSA will liaise with the Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA)-Customs Division and other agencies to organise a seminar to sensitise them on export requirements and procedures.
For his part, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Akwapim South Municipal Assembly, Mr. Frank Aidoo appealed to the GSA to partner the Assembly to procure power tools to assist the artisans in polishing and refining their handicrafts.
The shipper visitation and outreach team of the GSA and the MCE also visited the Golden Riverside Farms, growers and exporters of pineapples.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Golden Riverside Farms, Mr. Solomon Wiafe, thanked the GSA for the visit and its readiness to address his company’s shipment challenges.