American Paint is fraudulent — Kofi Kapito cautions public

Kofi Kapito

The Consumer Protection Agency’s (CPA) surveillance task force says "American Paint” is not approved by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for use in Ghana.

CPA noted that although it is very popular on the Ghanaian market, the paints are imported into the country packaged in unlabeled drums, without showing the origin or manufacturer making it "fraudulent."

In a press briefing, Chief Executive Officer of CPA, Kofi Kapito said the “American Paints” have flooded the local market.

"Our investigations confirm that products manufactured in the USA, whether for domestic use or export, should not lack essential labeling, including the manufacturer’s details, batch number, ingredients, expiring date and barcode for traceability", he stated.

In the case of American Paints, he said such information cannot be found on the product.

According to him, the rate of unprofessional and unlicensed individuals producing paints in backyards and homes is very alarming and there's the need for authorities to step up their game.

He said the production of fake paints may be harmful to one's health if not handled properly as laid out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana Standards Authority. (GSA).

He stated emphatically that his able team has drawn the attention of the EPA and GSA to collaborate with the CPA in cracking down on illegal paint producers to safeguard public health and ensure compliance with the law.

Read full statement below:
PRESS CONFERENCE STATEMENT
The Consumer Protection Agency’s surveillance task force has uncovered a troubling issue regarding paint products, with the so called “American Paint” being a notable example, despite its popularity in the market, as it lacks approval from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

These paints are imported into the country packaged in unlabeled drums, lacking any indication or origin or manufacturer, contrary to GSA and EPA regulations. These unlabeled paints are then re-packaged and labeled as “American Paints”, which are sold and distributed into the local market.

Our investigations confirm that products manufactured in the USA, whether for domestic use or export, should not lack essential labeling, including the manufacturer’s details, batch number, ingredients, expiring date and barcode for traceability. We are informing the public that these so called “American Paints” are fraudulent and are misleading consumers.

Additionally, we have identified a concerning trend of individuals producing paints in backyards and homes. The production of paints may be hazardous if not handled professionally and in a supervised environments by skilled and professional employees under strict safety conditions, as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

These makeshift operations are often situated in communities, which now pose significant health risks to both the producers and the surrounding communities.

In response, we have alerted the EPA and GSA to collaborate with the CPA in cracking down these illegal paint producers to safeguard public health and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Thank you.