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Is There A Justification For Absence Of Board Members For Ghana Free Zones?

By Yaw Darteh
Opinion President Nana Akufo- Addo
SEP 25, 2017 LISTEN
President Nana Akufo- Addo

One of the key campaign promise by the Nana Addo government when in opposition, was to establish a factory in every region. The term "one district, one factory" was therefore coined in that regard.

Making true the campaign promise, the government has started working on the establishment of those factories and the first district to benefit, is the Ekumfi District in the Central Region, where a pineapple factory is being set up.

Though laudable, many people are very skeptic about the government's intension to give every district a factory, especially when certain important bodies are still not available to ensure the success of the policy.

One of such bodies is the Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB).

Established on 31st August, 1995 by an Act of Parliament – the Free Zone Act, 1995 (Act 504), is to enable the establishment of free zones in Ghana for the promotion of economic development; to provide for the regulation of activities in free zones and for related purposes.

The Board operates under a regulation (L.I. 1618) and actual implementation of the Programme commenced in September 1996.

The Ghana Free Zones Programme is designed to promote processing and manufacturing of goods through the establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZs), and, encourage the development of commercial and service activities at sea- and air-port areas.

In essence therefore, the whole of Ghana is accessible to potential investors who have the opportunity to use the free zones as focal points to produce goods and services for foreign markets.

Though the Ghana Free Zones Board is headed by an executive secretary, it has a nine member board who are appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State. The Board is chaired by the Minister of Trade & Industry. The board's main role is to facilitate, regulate and monitor activities in the free zones.

Functions of the Board include granting licenses to applicants, assisting applicants for licenses under Act 504 and providing services for obtaining other relevant licenses, permits and facilities, among many others.

This therefore means that, the Board of the GFZB has a very key role to play in the running of the Secretariat, unlike other state institutions.

Sadly, the government of Nana Akufo Addo has failed to constitute the board of the GFZB after coming to office for about nine months.

This is even more worrisome, especially when the government has just four year mandate and the GFZB, per its functions could play a key role in the establishment of the one district, one factory policy.

The government of Nana Addo cannot fail the teeming unemployed Ghanaian youth who toiled to make the victory happen on December 7, 2016.

And it is my hope that the government urgently constitute the board of the Ghana Free Zones Board to augment the work of the Ministry of Trade to realise the dream of setting up factory in every district.

Boys Abr3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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