The
importance of evidence based advocacy in policy reforms cannot be undermined,
since facts and figures are necessary for the development of effective policies,
for example in areas of competition reforms and consumer welfare, asserted Prof
Felix Asante, Director
of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the
University of Ghana while chairing a meeting of national stakeholders.
These stakeholders
met to review the advocacy plan of the project entitled, Competitions Reforms in Key Markets for Enhancing Social and
Economic Welfare in Developing Countries (referred to as the CREW project) in
Accra.
CUTS Accra is overseeing the implementation of the CREW project in
Ghana. CREW is being implemented in four countries namely, Ghana, Zambia, India
and the Philippines with the focal research sectors being the staple food and
the bus transport sector. In Ghana Maize and Bus Transport markets are being
looked at to examine how competition reforms have or can impact consumers
and/or producers.
Upon the completion of the research phase
conducted by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
(ISSER), the CREW project enters into
the advocacy and networking phase, where key advocacy issues have been
identified for advocacy by CUTS Accra and researchers engaged in preparing the
report.
Findings in the
maize sector point towards the possibility of additional costs being paid by the
government in subsidies on fertilizers on account of unfair charges being levied
in some segments of the domestic supply chain (handling/clearance and/or inland
transportation). The project will explore this issue with support from the
Ministry of Trade and Industry.
On the passenger
transport sector, a key finding is the absence of well-defined rules of the
game for private players in bus transport. A regulatory authority is being planned
to oversee the road transport sector in the country. This would help bring some
balance in the market which seems to be dictated by the Transport Unions
leading to reduced consumer gains.
A suggestion was made by transport
sector expert, Bernard Arthur to
identify some of the weaknesses in the Accra Municipal Authority (AMA) s
function of supervising urban bus transport and raise the demand for
strengthening such functions of the AMA.
In procurement of
Maize, the project intends to assess the relationship between the market queens
and farmers, especially in terms of price-setting process, price realisation
and overall support. Lydia Abbey, the President of Maize Sellers Association of
Ghana contributing to the discussions dispelled the notion that the market
queens short change the farmers when it comes to buying maize.
She added that
the farmers are now sophisticated and make use of cell phones to compare prices
from other market centres. She added that some of their members provide
interest free loans to the farmers to help boost their production.
Edward Addo Dankwa from
the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) emphasized on the need to
understand the organization and governance structure of the women traders in
the maize procurement and also how best the government and ministry can provide
assistance to both maize farmers and the private women traders present in the
value chain.
Ed
Brown, Director (Policy Advisory Services) at ACET was of the opinion that
public transport is a public good and that the involvement both the state and
that the private sector is crucial. So, a system of Public Private Partnership
(PPP) was critical.
Kofi Amenyah, Director
(Legal), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI)
in his remarks highlighted that the Ministry appreciates the importance
of competition policy for the country. And in this regard, he welcomed the
suggestions emerging from the CREW project - as these will help highlight the
benefits of competition in the daily lives of the ordinary Ghanaian.
The
meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Food and
Agriculture (MOFA), Ministry of Trade
and Industry,(MOTI) , Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research
(ISSER), Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Peasant Farmers Association, Food Sovereignty
Ghana Africa, Centre for Economic
Transformation (ACET) and National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) as well representatives
from the Market Queen Associations and Maize Sellers Association of Ghana.
Credit: CUTS Accra
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