The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has organised a one-day workshop to sensitise industry players towards the operationalization of an electronic platform that seeks to facilitate the reporting, processing and monitoring of non-tariff trade barriers (NTTBs) in the country.

The E-platform is also an advocacy tool that allows shippers to adopt electronic medium for sending their complaints to a centralised system to help improve, identify and monitor NTTB.

This is expected to facilitate continuous collection and collation of challenges encountered by shippers/traders to enhance the management and handling of such reports to improve transparency in resolving identified barriers.

The E-Platform will also help to streamline NTTBs in the West African sub-region to promote a better business environment and facilitate trade through data dissemination, awareness creation and improved advocacy roles.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Dr. Kofi Mbiah, speaking at the opening of the workshop, said the e-platform when implemented, will address trade barriers that make businesses uncompetitive.

He said an increased non-tariff barrier to trade is impeding the growth of businesses in the West African sub-region.

Dr. Mbiah indicated that the E-Platform is an initiative of the GSA and Borderless Alliance to develop measures that will boost the business environment and competitiveness of shippers.

He said the platform will help shippers to report any incidence of illegal money extortions and interruptions they were confronted with on the barriers for prompt resolutions.

Ziad Hamoui, Executive Director of Tarzan Enterprise Limited, initiators of Borderless Alliance, said the e-platform, if properly implemented would provide an opportunity for traders to file complaints on a website to highlight difficulties in the transportation of goods across West Africa.

It is a regional platform which is currently being piloted along the Tema – Ouagadougou corridor, it involves authorities and stakeholders in Ghana and Burkina Faso.