Minister calls for strict scrutiny of imported products

Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan has urged the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to tighten its checks on products entering the country to ensure that they conform to applicable world standards to guarantee safety of consumers. 

Speaking at the commemoration of the World Standard Day themed “standards level the playing field”, Mr Ricketts-Hagan underscored the need for GSA to promote trade and ensure that goods that are exported from Ghana to other countries comply with standards, adding, “in the same way, it is just fair and appropriate that goods imported into Ghana from other countries are also made to conform our standards”. 

He further touched on the need to educate manufacturers on the importance of complying to standards during production and also consumers, on need to pay attention to what they consume because patronage of substandard products can be life threatening, while pledging the support of the Ministry of Trade in such endeavor. 

Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Dr. Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah in his solidarity message said, the collaboration between the two institutions especially in the development of standards for Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) bulbs and electrical wiring has shot up Ghana's image as other countries are also emulating.

Audrey Esirifie of Nestle Ghana, on her part, commended the Ghana Standards Authority for engaging stakeholders in developing proper and internationally accepted standard practices. 

Kofi Kapito of the Consumer Protection Agency also urged consumers across the country to alert regional offices of the Ghana Standard Authority whenever they become suspicious of products they use enable the Authority get rid of them. 

The World Standard Day is celebrated internationally each year on 14 October. The day honours the efforts of the thousands of experts who develop voluntary standards within standards development organizations. 

The aim of World Standards Day celebration is to raise awareness among regulators, industry and consumers as to the importance of standardization to the global economy.