Activity Background
The Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment Activity (GTI) aims to grow and diversify exports to boost national GDP and household income for Ghanaian citizens through the adoption and enforcement of internationally recognized standards along agricultural value chains, the reduction in time and cost to move goods across borders, and increased investment, especially among small and medium enterprises.
A component of GTI is to improve the quality of high-value agricultural goods and products by strengthening traceability systems, incentivizing SME awareness and use of these systems, and ensuring that the enforcement of SPS standards aligns at the national and international levels. To do this, the project is seeking to support export-oriented enterprises in adopting and achieving compliance with internationally recognized market-driven standards.
Ghana is well-placed and has a very high potential for the commercial production of fruit and vegetables and their processed derivatives for export. However, for the country to access international markets, an effective and stringent food safety regulatory system should ensure these products comply with international food safety standards. Ghana commenced implementation of the National Food Safety Policy from December 2022 which aimed at addressing the weaknesses and overlaps in the existing food safety regulatory structure in Ghana through:
- Strengthening of food safety governance;
- Strengthening of institutional coordination and collaboration; and
- Promotion of harmonization, and enforcement of laws and regulations on food safety in Ghana.
A National Food Safety Strategic Action plan was developed and adopted to facilitate the realization of the above-indicated objectives through the work of the Steering Committee i.e., National Inter Sectoral Food Safety Coordinating Committee (NISFSCC), and a Technical Working Group (TWG).
The TWG, under the guidance of the Steering Committee, has compiled Forty-two (42) Guidelines and four (4) Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) from relevant regulatory agencies that have mandates over various actors across the food chain regarding food safety. These Guidelines and MoUs are legal documents to improve food safety compliance among the food supply chain actors.
To ensure that these Guidelines and MoUs achieve their intended purpose, a legal expert must review and/or draft them into enforceable forms. GTI is looking for a local consultant to review these guidelines, draft them into regulations where applicable, and work together with the TWG to promulgate these documents.
Responsibilities and Tasks
The consultant will review these guidelines and where applicable draft them into regulations, and work together with the TWG to promulgate these documents. The tasks include:
- Review guidelines and/or protocols developed by the TWG for the implementation of the National Food Safety Policy.
- Facilitate a validation workshop on all guidelines and/or protocols developed by the TWG for implementing the National Food Safety Policy.
- Ensure the promulgation of all guidelines and/or protocols developed by the TWG for the implementation of the National Food Safety Policy.
- Review the MoU drafted by the TWG for the implementation of the National Food Safety Policy.
- Work with the TWG to ensure the signing of these MoUs by the respective institutions.
Deliverables
- 50 reviewed guidelines and/or protocols.
- Final versions of 4 MoUs for signing by respective institutions such as PPRSD, GEPA, VSD - MOFA.
- Facilitated a validation workshop, deliver a list of attendees and report.
- End of Assignment report including a summary of activities, list of documents reviewed and/or promulgated, and list of MoUs reviewed and/or signed by respective institutions.