Abstract:
Demonstrating compliance with food safety requirements of the global economy is a prerequisite
for access. As tariff barriers diminish, developing countries are exposed to greater
opportunities for repositioning their food manufacturing sectors in global value chains
(GVCs). At the same time, the measures for the protection of public health and safety are
becoming more stringent because of the series of food safety crises that characterised the
global food value chain in the 1980s and 1990s, and that still linger on. The new demands
arising from the need to protect consumer safety, coupled with the structure of the global
economy have introduced new challenges for developing countries in terms of accessing the
global food manufacturing value chain(GFMVC) with manufactured products. This is the
case for the Ghanaian food manufacturing sector. Therefore, this study aims to understand
the practice of developing food safety capability to enhance access to the GFMVC using high
value added products, to identify performance gaps in the Ghanaian context and propose an
appropriate framework (legal, institutional and policy) to address the major gaps, while
meeting the basic requirements of food safety.
A multiple case study methodology was adopted, using the UK food and drinks sector as a
benchmark for the Ghanaian food manufacturing sector. The main techniques employed for
data collection were surveys, interviews and content analysis.
Based on the findings and insights gathered from the investigation, a technical regulation
based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is proposed as a means to
enhance the compliance of enterprises in Ghana with the basic requirements of food safety.
Because of the current lack of capability at the national and enterprise level, a four-phase
implementation plan is recommended to progressively ease enterprises into mandatory
compliance with integrated food safety management systems. The study also recommends
that the current multiple agency structure is maintained, however, mandates, roles and
responsibilities, and jurisdictions need to be clarified, and values reformed. Various kinds of
support (e.g. funds, training) also have to be provided to enterprises to facilitate their
compliance and enhance their access to the GFMVC.
