By Ewoenam Kpodo
Denu (VR), May 16, GNA – Mr Nicholas Kwabla Worclachie, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ketu South, has assured cross-border women traders in the municipality that his administration is committed to removing non-tariff barriers impeding regional trade.
He said the commitment was in line with President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy agenda, an ambitious and promising vision, which aims to drive inclusive economic growth through continuous productivity.
Mr Worclachie gave the assurance when executives of the Ketu South branch of National Cross-Border Women Traders Association (NCBWTA), aimed at championing the cause of cross-border women traders visited him in his office to congratulate him on his appointment and confirmation as the new MCE.
The MCE acknowledged the vital role of women traders in facilitating economic integration and sustaining livelihoods along Ghana’s eastern border.
“Cross-border women traders are the backbone of regional commerce in this part of the country. We recognise the challenges you face—from delays and excessive checkpoints to informal payments, and we are determined to work with all stakeholders to address these non-tariff barriers.”
Mr Worclachie added that removing these impediments was critical to making Ghana’s trade corridors more efficient and competitive under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework, especially in enforcing the ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme to the fullest with women playing a key role in the implementation.
He noted that the drive to support traders and streamline border operations would fall under broader strategies being adopted to realise the government’s 24-hour economy vision, saying, improving trade facilitation and creating an enabling environment for businesses around the clock was key to unlocking economic opportunities, particularly in border communities.
“We cannot talk about a 24-hour economy without ensuring that trade, especially at our borders is seamless, secure, and inclusive. Women traders must be able to do business without fear of harassment or unnecessary bottlenecks.”
Mr Worclachie commended the founders, board and management of NCBWTA for their timely initiative to come together to, among others, see to the implementation of ECOWAS trade protocols in collaboration with stakeholders.
Mr Oscar Akaba-Norvixoxo, National Coordinator, NCBWTA, briefed the MCE on the Association’s initiatives such as border resident and non-border resident cross-border traders’ identification card, developed in accordance with ECOWAS protocol on movement, supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Others were traders’ database development, capacity building on women traders’ rights and responsibilities, training on Customs procedures and compliance requirements.
Mr Akaba-Norvixoxo lauded the MCE for his intended cross-border business development committee and called for inclusion of the grassroots border traders, saying they had a lot of experience to shape the objective and success of the committee.
He explained to Ghana News Agency that more was needed to be done to remove the non-tariff barriers hence the call on the MCE to extend his administrative role to include women in trade at the Assembly level.
GNA
MA/CA