NAFDAC certification difficult to get - Ghana companies

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority on Monday cried out that Ghanaian companies found it difficult to access the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control for certification of Ghanaian products.

The Principal Export Development Officer of GEPA, Mrs Nelly Spio-Abaido, who made the revelation in Lagos, said that GEPA was finding it increasingly difficult to approach NAFDAC’s authorities for documentation and certification of Ghanaian products.

NAFDAC is the Nigerian agency responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water.

Spio-Abaido who spoke on the sidelines of the Lagos International Trade Fair said, “There are many Ghanaian companies that wished they were at the fair but because there is difficulty in getting NAFDAC certification, they had to stay back home.

“Ghanaian companies have been exhibiting products in Nigeria for a long time ago. I think by now, we should have access to smooth and quick products certification.

“Before any trade fair, there should be dialogue between the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ghana High Commission on the right channels to access products documentation.

“We want a letter to be written to NAFDAC by LCCI stating the companies that have registered for the fair and urging them to quickly facilitate their documentation and certification.

“If all these measures are put in place then more Ghanaian companies will come for trade fairs in Nigeria from time to time.

“We know there are trade barrier so we want to register our products the right way before coming to trade fairs in Nigeria.

“Ghanaians prefer to exhibit their products in Nigeria because of the similarity in language and products and above all because of the brotherly relationship,” Spio-Abaidoo said.

Only 28 Ghanaian companies were able to exhibit their products at the Lagos International Trade Fair, which took place between November 2 and November 12