Ghana has joined the race for presidency of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), the intergovernmental body in-charge of harmonising standards and conformity procedures to facilitate intra-trading.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration submitted the country’s bid in the latter parts of April which advanced the country’s vision should it be elected.
ARSO’s 2021 election is slated for June 15 in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.
This year’s congress has become crucial as the African Union Commission seeks to significantly increase intra-trading through its ambitious vehicle – the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In a paper on AfCFTA in 2020, the World Bank said the success of the ambitious trade deal “hinges on a harmonised quality infrastructure which will remove some of the technical barriers to trade”.
Winning the elections will boost Accra’s prominence on the 1.2 billion population market as she already plays host to the AfCFTA secretariat.
If Ghana’s candidature gets endorsed by member-states, it will be the first time a Ghanaian will head the intergovernmental body since its formation.
The furthest Ghana has been in the leadership of ARSO in the organization’s 44-year journey is the treasury portfolio, despite being a member-state since its formation in Accra in 1977.
The tenure of the next ARSO presidency will run between 2022 and 2025.
By: Sani Abdul-Rahman.
