Accra, June 10, GNA - The Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) is compiling a new register of non-traditional exporters in the various product categories to enable it to build an accurate data on all members and to stem fraud. As part of the registration process, a geographic information system will be used to map out the office locations of the exporters. It will also involve a thorough examination and assessment of exporters' office and operational environment before registration is approved. The GEPC is collaborating with the Ghana Standards Board and the Foods and Drug Board and other stakeholders in assessing the locations and operational environment. Mr Edward Collins Boateng, Executive Secretary GEPC, told the first exporters' forum for 2008 that the move had become necessary in view of the several complaints of products being rejected by importers because of the presence of aflatoxins. "The majority of exporters cannot be made to suffer through the attempts of a few to spoil the market. If that happens it affects everyone," he said. The forum provides a platform for exporters to engage in frank discussion with other stakeholders on problems affecting them in their operations. Mr Boateng said the re-registration was not to make exporters' work difficult but to ensure that all participants in the market were known. He said GEPC would continue to review the process and procedures so as not to impose additional cost on exporters on adhering to the process.

Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, said the Ministry through the World Bank Micro Small and Medium Enterprises project had contracted a UK-based consulting firm Maxwell Stamp to develop a National Export Strategy for the country. He said the consulting firm had been requested to review and analyse the country's export potentia; and current export portfolio in the light of world market trends to determine potential lead sectors, products and services which had the highest growth prospects. It is also to determine specific opportunities for production expansion and market penetration for products identified as Ghana's best export prospects.

Based on best practices, the firm is to prescribe sector development strategies to achieve the goals and targets set and also recommend appropriate institutional framework and financing plan for implementing, coordinating and monitoring the National Export Strategy. On difficulties in accessing credit, Mr Agyeman-Manu urged exporters to organise their financial activities in a way as to make it possible for them to receive funding from the banks and Export Development and Investment Fund. He called on the various product associations, GEPC and the banks to organise periodic training programmes for exporters to enable them to overcome the difficulties they faced in accessing these credit facilities from the banks and EDIF.