A team of World Trade Organization (WTO) officials are due in the country from August 25 to 29, to asses Ghana's trade facilitation needs. The experts will asses facilities, procedures and other systems by which importers and exporters clear and transport goods without hindrance and as far as laid down customs procedures are concerned. B&FT learnt that the aim is to make prescriptions and offer assistance where necessary to improve the transit of goods through the borders of the country. Many West African countries acknowledge the benefits that arise from improved trade facilitation and the economic gains that could be generated. Significant efforts have been expended on harmonization of customs procedures, facilitation of transport systems and networks, development of transport corridors, and automation of trade and customs data in the sub-region. Promotion of a free trade area and negotiation on a common tariff structure are some of the milestones in the efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). A government official, who would not want named, told B8FT that smooth border processes are desired because they lead to increased volumes of goods and reduction in transaction costs, both domestically and internationally. "In consequence, consumers also enjoy lower prices of goods sold on the markets," the official added. Ghana has witnessed remarkable improvement especially with the electronic data interchange system that came with the introduction of the GCNet. With the GCNet, clearing of goods at the ports were supposed to reduce from five days to a day, but this has not been smooth completely. The experience of many African land-locked countries, where the margin between Cost in Freight (CIF) and Free on Board (EOB) can be as much as 50 percent, is an example of the savings that can be made from improvements in transport networks in the sub-region. Source: B&FT