While the GOG has an Official Registry and publishes its laws and regulations, as well as

Parliamentary debates, it is not always easy to find the information or to obtain copies of

complete and/or current laws and regulations.  Thus, in furtherance of the objective of greater

transparency in the policy making and implementation process, project personnel will work

with and provide assistance to improve the publication and availability of information about

policy making and policy changes; this will, of course, contribute to enhancing monitoring and

evaluation capacity in Ghana.

In addition to the official sources, ISSER monitors changes in Ghanaian laws and regulations

and publishes these periodically.  Thus, ISSER's publications will be used to help verify the

progress made in policy reform (ISSER's publications lag considerably and, thus, are not

adequate for the monthly and quarterly progress and monitoring reports).

1. Results Expected from Policy and Regulatory Reforms

The policy reforms that are implemented are expected to produce positive effects on the

Ghanaian economy.  These, as outlined in the Technical Proposal, include results for Task One

(CLIN 1 & 2) of the USAID Sigma One contract.  The results expected for each task and the

approach to monitoring for these results are described below.  Indicators for the expected

results, sources for obtaining the indicators, and their baseline values also are reported.

Task 1. Improved Policy and Regulatory Environment: Based on the Sigma One

Corporation's technical proposal, the expected results from Task 1  CLIN 1 (Promote

Participatory Change) and CLIN 2 (Adoption and Implementation of Policy and Regulatory

Reform) are:

a. A viable policy reform agenda to increase international competitiveness;

b  Ongoing participation of private sector in the policy dialogue and change process;

c. Increased public knowledge of policy reforms;

d. Implementation plans for agreed upon policy reforms;

e. Streamlined procedures for importation of agricultural and industrial inputs;

f. Improved policies for exportation of specific products such as wood, cotton, yams, etc.;

g. Elimination of export bans for products: cotton lint, natural rubber, scrap metal and yams;

h. Enforced compliance with BOG policy eliminating foreign exchange controls for exporters   

   of nontraditional products.

As a result of suggestions made and questions raised after review of the Technical Proposal,

Sigma One submitted a  Best and Final Offer  which added detail and explanations of the

procedures described in the former.  Consequently, the following additional expected results

for the Improved Policy and Regulatory Reform task have been added to those listed in the

Technical Proposal:

i. Improvements in labor markets and labor productivity;.

h. Improvements in land uses through better usufruct procedures;.

j. An improved, more hassle free business climate;

k.An enhanced trade regime; and

l. A reduced, but more effective role for the government in the economy.

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