Omanbapa Group Welcomes IEAG Leadership to Strengthen Collaboration Ahead of Ghana's PVoC Implementation

 

Accra, Ghana – The Governing Board and Executive Leadership of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) paid a courtesy call on Omanbapa Group of Companies to familiarize themselves with the operational activities of Omanbapa Auto & PVoC Ltd, following the Government of Ghana's announcement that the Pre-Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme will officially commence on 1st October.

 

The visit formed part of IEAG's stakeholder engagement to better understand the country's preparedness for the implementation of the new conformity assessment regime, which is expected to improve product quality, enhance consumer safety and strengthen Ghana's international trade standards.

 

The IEAG delegation was led by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Sampson Asaki Awingobit, while the Chief Executive Officer of Omanbapa Group, Mr. Bernard Oduro Takyi, welcomed the delegation and conducted a tour of the company's operational facilities.

 

During the engagement, Mr. Takyi presented the vision behind Omanbapa Auto & PVoC Ltd. and highlighted the strategic partnership with AutoTerminal Japan, the designated inspection body working on behalf of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for the implementation of the PVoC programme.

 

He explained that the initiative is designed to ensure that imported products, particularly used vehicles, comply with Ghana's quality and safety requirements before shipment, thereby protecting consumers, improving road safety and supporting the country's industrial transformation agenda.

 

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Sampson Asaki Awingobit commended Omanbapa for pioneering what he described as the first Ghanaian-owned inspection company involved in the implementation of the PVoC programme.

 

He emphasized that the Association would objectively assess the programme based on its performance.

"We will criticize where necessary and praise when it is deserved. As an Association, we support initiatives that put Ghana first. What belongs to Ghana must be protected."

 

Mr. Awingobit further stressed the need to discourage tax evasion and illegal import practices, noting that effective implementation of the PVoC programme would help address several longstanding challenges within the automotive import sector.

 

He observed that Ghana has increasingly become a destination for accident-damaged, stolen and substandard vehicles, a trend that the new inspection regime is expected to significantly reduce.

 

According to him, the initiative will contribute to:

1. Improved road safety through enhanced vehicle inspections.
2. Reduction in the importation of accident-damaged and stolen vehicles.
3. Greater compliance with customs and tax regulations.
4. Improved consumer confidence in imported goods.
5. Protection of Ghana's economy and legitimate businesses.

 

The discussions also covered several strategic areas of national importance, including:

1. Homologation of General Goods and Services to ensure products meet required national standards.
2. Pre-Shipment Inspection procedures and compliance requirements before export to Ghana.
3. Destination Inspection and post-arrival verification processes.
4. Automotive Development, including measures to improve vehicle quality, safety standards, and support Ghana's automotive industry.

The meeting concluded with both organizations reaffirming their commitment to continuous stakeholder engagement and collaboration to ensure the successful implementation of the PVoC programme.

 

The visit represents another significant step toward strengthening cooperation between industry stakeholders and government institutions as Ghana prepares to roll out one of its most comprehensive quality assurance and trade facilitation initiatives.

 

Photo Caption: Executive Leadership of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG), led by Executive Secretary Mr. Sampson Asaki Awingobit, in a group photograph with the CEO of Omanbapa Group, Mr. Bernard Oduro Takyi, and management of Omanbapa Auto & PVoC Ltd. during a courtesy visit ahead of Ghana's nationwide PVoC implementation scheduled for 1 October.