Accra: Eleven out of a 13-member board of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) have been sworn into office to help advance Ghana's non-traditional export agenda. Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, who administered the oath at a ceremony in Accra, urged the board to coordinate efforts that would ease business operations and improve export performance.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Ofosu-Adjare expressed confidence in the board's capabilities, which comprise professionals from key institutions across various sectors. 'I am truly excited at the calibre of people I have got to serve. This board can only perform; there is nothing else it can do,' the Minister said. She emphasised that increasing exports remained a top government priority and noted that President John Dramani Mahama now chairs a newly established advisory committee on trade.
'Once we boost our exports, the foreign exchange matter will even improve. Once we do that, there is a lot of jobs that we can create,' she added. The new GEPA board is chaired by Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, a Member of Parliament. Other members include Mr Seth Twum-Akwaboah, Mr Peter Nuhu, and Mr Mark Badu-Aboagye. The remaining members are Mr Yussif Issaka Jajah, also a Member of Parliament, Dr Philip Abradu-Otoo, Mr Simon Madjie, Dr Jessica Aku Nkansah, Mr Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, Mr Abu Osuman, and Mrs Joyce Boatemaa Akuamoah.
Speaking on behalf of the board, Dr Jasaw said members were committed to collaboration and the strategic positioning of GEPA to fulfil its trade facilitation mandate. 'This board will not bequeath to your record only the increase in trade volumes, but we would be interested in the trade values so that truly we can have proper meanings to the foreign exchange these expanded trade will have on this country,' he said. GEPA is a state agency under the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, established in 1969 to develop, facilitate, and promote Ghana's exports.
