BURKINA FASO-GHANA TO STRENGTHEN TRADE TIES
GPHA seeking improved trade relationship with Burkina Faso.
During a week long trade mission to Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, organised by Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), which is aimed at increasing transit traffic between Ghana and Burkina Faso (who are Ghana’s biggest transit trade partner). Some concerns which need addressing were raised;
Aiming at removing repetitive custom procedures at Ghanaian borders, Burkina Faso’s Customs are requesting to integrate its systems with those of its Ghanaian counterparts. This move it believes will reduce complications and improve the ease of doing business between the two entities.
The Burkina Faso business community also had other requests it believes would help the business relationship between the two(2) countries, some of these include;
- Ghana government should consider removing the US$200 tax on transit goods, as this is also increases cost of doing business at the Ghanaian corridor.
- Burkina Faso’s Chamber of commerce wants the Ghanaian customs to relax on its newly instituted system which demands all cargo to leave its corridors before seven(7) days or cargo owners will pay a fine of GH¢1,000 for each day overstayed.
Although the system was instituted to check diversion of cargo by customs, Burkina Faso says the time frame is to tight considering distance. - The Ghanaian Embassy in Burkina Faso said documentations from the Port authority should be made clearer and also the language difference should be considered.
Responding the above request, delegates of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), assured the Burkinabes that the Ghanaian Government will take all necessary actions to make sure that their requests are granted.
Burkina Faso commended GPHA for pioneering such mission to promote trade between Ghana and its neighbours, and they also said this will forever place Ghana above its commercially competing countries in the maritime and shipping industry.