A coalition of major trade associations has suspended its ongoing industrial action following a meeting with the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority over concerns about the implementation of the Publican AI system.
The Joint Business Forum, comprising key industry groups, announced the decision in a statement issued on April 16 after what it described as extensive deliberations with government officials, including the Deputy Finance Minister.
The coalition said it had presented four key demands during the meeting, including the immediate suspension of the Publican AI system, a return to previous procedures for appealing valuation outcomes, full disclosure of the system’s operational and contractual details, and clearly defined terms for participation in a proposed multi-party committee.
Following the discussions, government agreed to revert the appeals process to the status quo and ensure that all valuation disputes are resolved within 24 hours. To support this, authorities will expand the existing appeals committee from six to twelve members.
Both sides also agreed to jointly develop terms of reference for a multi-party committee by April 20, 2026, to address outstanding concerns regarding the system.
However, the coalition expressed disappointment that government declined to suspend the Publican AI system. Officials instead encouraged stakeholders to use the proposed committee as a platform to resolve issues.
Government also maintained its position on limited disclosure of the system, offering only restricted access for trade leaders to review its operations and engage with its developers, without broader public transparency.
Despite these reservations, the Joint Business Forum said it welcomed the concessions made, describing them as an improvement over earlier engagements.
“While not satisfied, we acknowledge and welcome the concessions made by government,” the statement said, adding that the response marked “a departure from dismissiveness and condescension” encountered in previous discussions.
The coalition emphasized that its demand for the suspension of the Publican AI system remains unchanged, citing the need for broader stakeholder consultation and transparency.
It noted that the suspension of industrial action is temporary and contingent on the outcome of upcoming engagements with the multi-party committee.
“To be clear, our industrial action has only been put on hold, not withdrawn,” the group stated.
The Joint Business Forum, which includes organizations such as the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations, the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, and the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, said it remains committed to dialogue but warned it would take further action if necessary to protect the interests of the trading community.
Source:www.kumasimail.com
