By Michael Pepsin Avorgah, GNA
Aflao (V/R), Aug 31, GNA – The Trans-Border Business Network (TBN), a women-focused trade advocacy group, has called on the Ghanaian and Togolese governments and the ECOWAS Commission to ensure that the bloc’s free movement policy becomes a reality at the borders.
This will enable women engaged in cross-border trade to conduct their businesses without undue restrictions.
The call was made at the second sensitisation programme organised by the Network in Aflao in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region to educate women traders on border procedures, compliance, their rights and responsibilities, and opportunities within trans-border trade.
Ms Mabel Yayra Ayivor, Co-founder of TBN, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that although ECOWAS had policies guaranteeing the free movement of people across member states, women traders continued to face difficulties when crossing the Ghana-Togo border for personal and commercial purposes.
She said the Network was therefore advocating stronger implementation of the free movement protocols to make cross-border trade easier, while encouraging traders to comply with existing laws and regulations.
“It is on the papers that ECOWAS allows free movement across the borders, but on the ground, we don’t see it like that. Crossing the border for personal use and trade has become very difficult because of a lot of restrictions,” she said.
Ms Ayivor said the Network’s engagement with stakeholders was aimed at helping traders to understand the requirements of the various agencies operating at the border and enabling them to conduct their businesses legally and confidently.
She said the second programme brought together officials from the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Ghana Immigration Service to educate participants on their respective mandates.
According to her, the traders were educated on border crossing procedures, required documentation and certificates, customs compliance, and ways of reporting suspicious or irregular activities to the appropriate authorities.
She said the initiative had already contributed to improved compliance among some women traders, particularly in customs duties.
Ms Ayivor explained that some traders who previously used unapproved routes to transport goods from Togo were now voluntarily taking their goods to the Customs yard for examination and payment of applicable duties.
She they had also gained a better understanding of the risks associated with using unapproved routes, including the possible seizure of their goods.
The Co-founder said TBN was seeking to build a strong association that could speak with one voice on issues affecting women engaged in trans-border trade and advocate policy changes that would create a more enabling business environment.
She said the Network would continue to educate its members on group buying, corporate buying, investment opportunities and other strategies that could help them maximise the benefits of cross-border commerce.
Ms Ayivor, however, noted that some of the concerns raised by traders went beyond the capacity of the Network and required policy-level discussions involving Ghana, Togo and ECOWAS.
She appealed to the three authorities to work together to address challenges affecting the movement of legitimate traders and make cross-border commerce more efficient.
Mr Joseph Mills, Senior Revenue Officer in charge of Baggage at the Ghana Revenue Authority, expressed satisfaction with the Network’s efforts to educate traders on customs procedures and compliance.
He said increased knowledge of customs regulations made the work of officers easier and helped traders avoid unnecessary difficulties at the border.
Mr Mills cautioned that traders who evaded payment of duties risked losing their goods or paying penalties and encouraged TBN to sustain its engagements with women traders.
He said regular education would help traders better understand their rights and responsibilities and promote smoother interaction between them and border officials.
A representative of the Food and Drugs Authority also educated the participants on goods permitted into the country, products prohibited from importation, and the procedures for registering food and pharmaceutical products intended for the Ghanaian market.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the programme and called for more regular engagements to deepen their understanding of border regulations and strengthen their businesses.
Some also encouraged women and other traders yet to join the Trans-Border Business Network to become members and benefit from its educational and advocacy activities.
The organisers said continued collaboration among traders, border agencies and policymakers would be important in promoting lawful, efficient and sustainable trade along the Ghana-Togo corridor.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba