Decentralize administrative function of MDAs - 

Businesses operating in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions are calling for effective decentralization of some administrative functions of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the Regions to enhance the cost of doing business.

Owners of these businesses say, the practice where officials have to travel to the national capital, Accra, to transact almost every aspect of operation starting from registration to renewal of permit is not only risky, but also negatively affecting the cost of doing business in the country. 

These sentiments were expressed in Kumasi at a forum of Chief Executive Officers of Free Zone enterprises in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions. 

The forum provided a platform for essential state agencies such as the Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana Standards Authority to update the participants on the statutory regulations governing the Free Zones industry to engender mutual trust, cooperation and compliance. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Michael Okyere Baafi, said the Authority has opened its first office in Kumasi to serve Free Zones enterprises in the northern sector of the country.  

He informed the participants also about the upward review of some charges and penalties against non-adherence to regulations of Free Zones businesses. 

Mr. Baafi hinted that efforts have started towards an amendment of portions of the existing Free Zones Act to make the law relevant to the changing times. 

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