Ghana Consumer Unity & Trust Society Launches COMPAD Project.

www.allafrica.com, September 26, 2014

PRESS RELEASE

The Ghana Office of the Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) International, with funding support from the Business Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund, is implementing a project referred to as the Competition and Advocacy Project (COMPAD) Project.

The 15-month project, titled “Advocating for a Functional Competition Regime/ Framework,” is to be implemented in three phases, with the aim of complementing government’s efforts towards evolving a functional national competition policy and law in Ghana.

In an address delivered on his behalf at the launch the project in Accra, yesterday, the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, noted that the ability of local products to compete and match imported products depended on innovation and the use of efficient technologies for production.

Dr Ahmed said consumers deserved to receive the highest utility for their money and that government would not shield market inefficiency.

He said the Ministry was pleased to have CUTS as a ‘knowledge partner’ on the issue of competition and consumer protection.

He, therefore, pledged the support of the Ministry of Trade for the effective implementation of the project.

In a welcome address, Mr Appiah Kusi Adomako, Country Co-ordinator of CUTS Ghana, noted that to make enterprise and productivity the cornerstone of Ghana’s economic transformation, a well-developed competition regime was needed to strengthen competition and the power of consumers.

Mr Adomako said the global view was that a national competition policy and law infused a level playing field in key markets and enhanced predictability and certainty in the market, thereby stimulating entrepreneurship and economic growth, with benefits for both consumers and producers.

He said CUTS would be working closely with senior policymakers, Members of Parliament and business leaders to deepen their understanding on the benefits of a functional competition regime.

Presenting an overview of the project, Ms Edayatu Lamptey of CUTS Ghana, said the project aimed to facilitate the process towards the evolution of a national competition regime in Ghana, through an informed process, by incorporating views of key actors and also gaining support from Ghanaian businesses and consumers, with the ultimate objective of advocating for a well-enforced competition regime in Ghana.

Ms Lamptey said it was certain that a national competition regime in the country would reduce uncertainty for businesses, as well as, serve as an important element of a regulatory package for private sector development.

In his remarks, Mr Joe Tackie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Private Sector Development Strategy and Chairman for the occasion, added his voice to the call for a national competition policy and law in Ghana, and commended CUTS Ghana for the lead role it was playing in the implementation of the project.

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