The new interim trade partnership agreement between Ghana and the United Kingdom is expected to commence Friday, October 1.

The Agreement seeks to reaffirm the deep interest of both Ghana and the UK to strengthen the longstanding trade and economic relationship by ensuring tariff-free trade transactions in both markets.

It also establishes a new framework for Ghana-UK collaboration which will contribute to sustained economic growth in Ghana.  

Minister of Trade and Industries, Alan Kyerematen announced the commencement date during the swearing-in and inauguration of the new Governing Board of the Ghana Standards Authority, Wednesday.

The Ghana-UK Trade Partnership Agreement will support businesses to increase their processes, encourage innovation in the market and create jobs as the country recovers from the ravaging effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Trade Minister, while announcing the commencement of the agreement, added that other market integration frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the EU-Ghana Economic Partnership Agreement are already being implemented.

Here, therefore, urged the newly-inaugurated Board of the Ghana Standards Authority to support government’s flagship programmes.

“Ghana has signed on to a number of major international trade agreements including the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“We’ve also started implementing the new Ghana-EU economic partnership agreement which opens up the entire EU market to Ghana duty-free-quota-free.”

“On October 1, we’ll also start implementing the Ghana-UK interim trade partnership and investment agreement,” Alan Kyerematen said.

Prof. Felix Charles Robertson, on behalf of the Board members, thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them.

Ghanaian products including bananas, tinned tuna and cocoa will benefit from tariff-free access to the United Kingdom once the agreement takes effect.

Ghana’s largest exports to the UK include mineral fuels and oil and cocoa. Its top imports include textiles, machinery and mechanical appliances, and chemical products from the UK.

New Governing Board of Ghana Standards Authority (GSA)

The newly-inaugurated six-member Governing Board of the Ghana Standards Authority will serve for four years before a new board will be constituted.

It includes Prof. Felix Charles Mills Robertson (Chairman), Prof. Alexander Nii Oto Dodoo (Director-General), and Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah (Member).

Others are Iddrisu Abdulai, Mark A. Taylor, and Dr Alex Ampofo Donkor, who are all members.