The West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), facilitated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funded by the European Union (EU), has notably impacted the market access of 48,849 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) both nationally and internationally. This initiative has been instrumental in the development and promotion of 16 new standards aimed at boosting the quality and consumer protection of cosmetics and personal care cassava products in Ghana and beyond.
Employing UNIDO's 5 Cs for competitiveness—coordinate, compete, conform, connect, and credit—WACOMP has significantly enhanced production, quality compliance, competitiveness, and market access for SMEs within the cosmetics, personal care, cassava, and fruit sectors. Over its five-year duration, the programme has successfully promoted productivity enhancement, sustainable and inclusive job creation, increased income for beneficiaries, and the improvement of Ghana's Quality Infrastructure System.
With a budget allocation of €6,350,000, the initiative targeted the value chains of cassava, mango, pineapple, cosmetics, and personal care products. At its conclusion, EU Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Irchad Razaaly, highlighted the project's role in demonstrating the benefits of investing in SMEs, agro-business, and private sector development for local entrepreneurs, the Ghanaian government, and the people of Ghana. Additionally, Mr Patrick Yaw Nimo from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) and Mrs Ebe Muschialli, UNIDO Project Manager, both acknowledged the project's significant contributions to enhancing the global competitiveness of Ghanaian enterprises.
Moreover, the Ghana Standards Authority Cosmetics Laboratory and Food and Drugs Authority Cosmetics Laboratory have achieved ISO 17025 accreditation, facilitating the export of Ghanaian products with the necessary certifications. WACOMP also developed Sector Export Marketing Plans for targeted value chains and collaborated with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority to bolster the presence of Ghanaian SMEs in international markets. This has resulted in over 500 market linkages, digital market presence, and regular exporting activities for Ghanaian SMEs, alongside facilitating access to credit exceeding GHc 4 million for more than 500 SMEs.
The WACOMP, a collaborative effort between the Economic Community of West African States and the EU, underscores the EU's commitment to regional economic integration and its Economic Partnership Agreement with West Africa. In Ghana, the programme's implementation was led by UNIDO in coordination with MOTI.
Source: GBN