GEPA to Meet $10 Billion Target

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) says it would remain focused on meeting its $10 billion target.

The Authority said it will not be distracted by sensational publications in the media on alleged financial malpractices.

It said these allegations were untrue and targeted at denigrating the Authority.

A statement released by the management of the Authority said “Having been involved in projects, activities and programmes to increase Ghana’s exports and achieve the target of $10 billion by 2020, the management will not be derailed by unfounded claims and commits to continue to work for the good of mother Ghana,”

The statement said since the management of GEPA was changed in April last year, the export sector had witnessed major interventions all geared towards supply base expansion and increased exports.

In December last year, the GEPA launched a pilot mass spraying and distribution of grafted seedlings programme at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The exercise is targeted at spraying about 70,000 acres annually, and is expected to increase yield by 30 percent over the current production level of about 70,000 metric tonnes.

GEPA also developed a 10-year sustainability plan for the production of cashew which was launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The objective was to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to implement strategic policies, aimed at significantly increasing the production of raw cashew nuts (RCN).

In a similar vein, GEPA had prepared and delivered 15 million suckers of pineapple and has committed funding to the tune of GH¢ 4.2 million to the procurement of the suckers to pineapple factories in the Eastern Region.

This investment was expected to yield an estimated $ 13.1 million in a few years.

GEPA has also undertaken extensive consultation with all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies throughout the country to identify one crop from each district, which would be developed for export.

Further works included the provision of storage facilities to prevent post-harvest losses, were ongoing.

GEPA launched the Coconut Export Revitalization Project in March 2018, distributing 60,000 hybrid coconut seedlings to farmers within the central Region.

In furtherance of this initiative, 40,000 seedlings are also being provided to coconut farmers in the Central Region under the aegis of the Coconut Farmers’ Association (COFAG).

This intervention was necessary as the projected world demand for coconut and its by products in 2021 was estimated to be 2.8 billion dollars.

GEPA supported the setting up of a Secretariat for the Association of Garment and Apparel Manufacturers (AGAM) and also supported officials to participate in the 2018 February version of the MAGIC Show. Exporters secured market for the products.

GEPA had embarked on a mission to rejuvenate and resuscitate the Abompe Beads Industry of Akyem-Abompe, in the Fanteakwa North District of the Eastern Region, by supporting to procure land for erection of a shed for beads producers.

In an attempt to bridge the information gap, GEPA launched the Market Hub providing up to date relevant information on markets, export products and standards at the click of a button to the exporter community.