Your mobile phone is defense device against fake products

Artificial Intelligence expert and Executive Chairman of Solomon Investment Limited, Dr. Chris Kpodar, has urged consumers to treat mobile phones as essential tools for verifying products and protecting themselves against counterfeit goods.

Speaking under the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA CONSULT) nationwide consumer protection campaign dubbed “VERIFY BEFORE YOU BUY,” Dr. Kpodar said most fake or substandard products can be identified using basic smartphone features before payment is made.

“Technology has put authentication in the palm of every consumer’s hand. You don’t need a lab to do basic verification anymore. If Ghanaians build the habit of checking products with their phones before they pay, we cut demand for fakes and force the market to self-correct,” he said.

The campaign, spearheaded by CDA CONSULT, is designed to educate consumers on how to authenticate products before purchase while promoting accountability among manufacturers and distributors. It combines public education with product traceability tools and mobile verification systems aimed at strengthening consumer protection alongside regulatory enforcement.

Dr. Kpodar said the initiative will include workshops across the 16 regional capitals and 120 district capitals over the next two years, aimed at equipping consumers with practical verification skills.

He explained that mobile phones can be used as no cost verification tools at the point of purchase by scanning QR codes, barcodes, or serial numbers found on products.

He noted that many genuine products now carry manufacturer issued QR codes or digital verification systems.

“Open your phone’s camera or a free scanner app and scan the code. Genuine items will link to the brand’s official verification portal showing batch number, production date, and status. If the link is broken, redirects elsewhere, or requests payment, treat it as a red flag,” he explained.

Dr. Kpodar, a former UN consultant for Africa and the Middle East, also advised consumers to be cautious of tampered packaging, stressing that verification codes should only be trusted when printed on original seals rather than stickers.

He further highlighted SMS based verification systems used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and electronics, where consumers can scratch a code, send it via text, and receive instant confirmation of authenticity.

Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director of CDA CONSULT, said the “Verify Before You Buy” campaign also trains consumers to compare products using their phones by checking official brand websites and verified social media pages.

He said consumers should compare logos, fonts, spelling, colours, and security features such as holograms with official references, noting that inconsistencies are often indicators of counterfeit products.

“Counterfeiters often miss subtle details that become obvious when viewed side by side on your phone screen,” he said.

Mr. Ameyibor added that retailers and distributors also have a critical role to play by identifying fake products, refusing to stock them, and reporting suspicious supply chains to regulators.

“Dealers are the last line of defence before a product reaches the consumer. Supporting the CDA Consult Verify Before You Buy campaign is both ethical and good business,” he stated.

He explained that the campaign is built on four key pillars: education, awareness, action, and protection, with regulators and law enforcement serving as the enforcement backbone.

Mr. Ameyibor said the initiative aims to shift consumer behaviour from passive purchasing to active verification, stressing that responsibility for product safety must be shared among consumers, producers, regulators, and law enforcement.

He cautioned consumers not to ignore basic checks during purchases, adding that simple verification could protect health and prevent financial loss.

“Don’t use your money to buy a bad product that will affect your health. A simple verification could save your life,” he said.