The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) have put months of speculation to rest with a joint statement clarifying that the Ghana EasyPass Programme is not a new tax, levy, or burden on traders.
The clarification followed a high-level meeting in Accra on Friday between the leadership of the GSA and executives of GUTA.
The meeting was held after GUTA, in a petition dated July 7, 2026 to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, raised concerns about the programme. Copies of the petition were also sent to the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, and the Board Chairman of GSA.
According to the joint communiqué, both parties met in what they described as an atmosphere of mutual respect and transparency to address what they called misrepresentations of the EasyPass Programme.
The GSA explained that EasyPass is not a new initiative. It has been in operation for the past 10 years as part of the Authority’s conformity assessment scheme. Officials said the document recently in circulation was only a set of operational guidelines for existing and potential users, and not the introduction of any new policy or charge.
Both institutions emphasized that compliance with Ghana Standards remains a legal requirement for all products on the Ghanaian market.
The EasyPass Programme, they added, is a voluntary option for businesses that want to go beyond the basic requirement and use full standards compliance as a way to build trust with consumers and gain a competitive edge.
On the issue of cost, the GSA and GUTA stated categorically that the programme imposes no new financial burden on the Ghanaian trading community. Businesses that choose not to participate can continue to operate under the existing conformity assessment arrangements.
“For imported goods, any fees tied to EasyPass are paid by exporters and manufacturers abroad during production or certification at origin, and are not passed on as a new charge at Ghana’s ports.”
The two bodies also noted that the programme serves a key consumer protection role.
“By ensuring that only products meeting Ghana Standards are cleared through EasyPass, the scheme helps to shield the market from sub-standard and counterfeit goods while protecting compliant traders from unfair competition,” the statement read.
GUTA acknowledged the clarifications from the GSA and admitted that its earlier concerns stemmed from a misunderstanding of the scope and purpose of the programme.
Both sides agreed that the issues raised in the July 7 petition have now been fully resolved.
Moving forward, the GSA pledged to improve stakeholder engagement and consultation with GUTA and other private sector groups on all standards-related programmes, in line with the Ghana Standards Authority Act, 2022.
The two organizations also agreed to set up a standing consultative framework to ensure traders remain involved in the design and rollout of future initiatives.
The GSA and GUTA reaffirmed their commitment to fairness, transparency, and collaboration in support of consumer safety, business growth, and national development.
