Advocacy towards Policy Review

Business associations see private sector advocacy as particularly essential when public issues like legislative acts, byelaws and regulations are identified as bottlenecks and/or hindrances to the course of business development.

The Ghana Co-operative Distillers and Retailers Association Limited (GCDA) have decided to use the means of advocacy to seek a review and replacement of the Manufacture and Sale of Spirits Regulations - LI 239 of 1962 and Liquor Licensing Act - Act 331 of 1970.

GCDA contend that these policies do not meet the needs of today adequately and are no longer enough and/or capable of governing and controlling production practices of practitioners within the trade to guarantee public safety. In pursuance of this advocacy initiative, GCDA is working at making a good case for this policy review through presentations and discussions of facts, at seminars with public officials including those from the Food and Drugs Board and the legislature.

The action aims at making business related legislation relevant and useful to the business community and society at large. This GCDA example is one of the advocacy initiatives receiving support from the BUSAC Fund.