Government unveils business regulatory reform portal to improve dialogue
The platform will improve transparency and inclusiveness as well as promote communication and feedback on trade and commerce between the government and all its stakeholders
Ghana News Agency (Accra) – Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, has unveiled the Ghana business regulatory reform portal, which will provide information on business-related laws and regulations to ensure prompt decision-making.
The portal is an electronic registry with about 5,000 business laws and regulations uploaded to it, which can be accessed through www.brr.gov.gh.
It also contains regulatory and administrative notices, directives and procedures, as well as details of administrative fees, forms and charges.
The portal is an interactive platform that will allow policymakers to consult businesses and individuals on policy issues easily and in a transparent, inclusive and timely manner. It is geared towards achieving the government’s objective of making the nation the most business-friendly destination in Africa.
Launching the portal in Accra, Kyerematen said businesses anywhere in the world can easily view and retrieve texts of laws and regulations being implemented in Ghana which relate to business.
He said it forms part of the government’s vision of achieving a “Ghana Beyond Aid” by attracting capital investment from the private sector. This is the type of investment the government believes will ensure accelerated economic growth and industrial transformation.
Improving regulation
The event was attended by government officials, captains of industry and heads of public and private sector institutions, as well as members of the business community.
The online portal was developed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry with funding from the Department for International Development (DfID), the chief UK government department responsible for administering foreign aid.
Kyerematen said the platform will improve transparency and inclusiveness as well as promote dialogue and feedback between the government and all its stakeholders so as to enhance quality service delivery.
“It is the government’s agenda [to make] Ghana the most business-friendly nation in Africa. Therefore, one of the most critical success factors for enhancing private sector performance and growth is the effectiveness of the private sector’s contribution in defining and improving the policy and regulatory environment within which they operate,” Kyerematen said.
More jobs, more self-reliance
As the nation weans itself off foreign aid, it is imperative to replace that dependency with private sector capital to promote investment and job creation and ensure self-reliance, the minister said. It is particularly important because the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global supply chain.
Philip Smith, DfID country director for Ghana, offering remarks via Zoom, gave his assurance that the UK government remains committed to supporting Ghana’s trade and investment drive.
He said the UK government will continue its partnership with Ghana in various sectors, including trade, manufacturing, investment and agriculture, to boost both countries’ economies, create jobs and alleviate poverty.
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
#asaaseradio
#TVOL
