Take personal responsibility for your health and safety as you go shopping – CDA Consult  

The Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA CONSULT) has urged Ghanaians to make product verification a routine part of every purchase, stressing that consumers have a critical role to play in protecting their health, safety, and livelihoods.

The call was made during a stakeholder engagement in Tema on Monday as part of the organization's nationwide "Verify Before You Buy" consumer empowerment and protection campaign.

CDA CONSULT warned that the widespread circulation of counterfeit and substandard products poses a serious threat to public health, household safety, and national development.

The Executive Director of CDA CONSULT, Mr. Francis Ameyibor, said purchasing products without first checking their authenticity and quality exposes consumers and their families to preventable dangers, including food poisoning, adverse skin reactions, electrical fires, and structural failures.

"Verify what you consume, use, and apply on your body before making payments," he advised.

Mr. Ameyibor emphasized that every purchasing decision has potential health and safety implications, noting that products that are uncertified, improperly labelled, or cannot be traced may endanger not only buyers but also the wider community.

"Everyone, including manufacturers, regulators, policymakers, dealers, and traders, is a consumer of a product," he stated.

He cautioned businesses involved in the sale of counterfeit or substandard products that the consequences could ultimately affect them and their own families.

"If you deal in counterfeit or substandard goods, it will come back to bite you. You may not consume the products or services you deal in, but your family members may do that. You may also consume other products from another manufacturer," Mr. Ameyibor said.

He further warned that the dangers extend beyond food and personal care products to electrical and electronic goods.

"If you deal in substandard electrical or electronic products, in the long run a fire outbreak as a result of you trading in substandard goods may consume you too," he cautioned.

CDA CONSULT noted that the proliferation of substandard products undermines government efforts to strengthen consumer protection, improve product standards, and reduce pressure on the country's healthcare system.

The organization observed that counterfeit medicines, expired food items, unregistered cosmetics, and uncertified building materials continue to contribute to hospital admissions, property damage, and the loss of livelihoods.

As part of the campaign, CDA CONSULT encouraged consumers to check certification marks and expiry dates on food, medicines, and cosmetics; request receipts and warranty documents when purchasing electrical and electronic products; inspect product labels and manufacturer information before use; and report suspected counterfeit or substandard goods to the appropriate regulatory authorities.

The organization stressed that consumer protection is a shared responsibility that extends beyond regulatory agencies. It urged manufacturers to maintain quality standards, traders to refrain from dealing in counterfeit goods, and policymakers to ensure the consistent enforcement of existing regulations.

"When we all act as responsible consumers first, the market becomes safer for all of us. Protecting your health and safety starts with one decision at the point of sale," Mr. Ameyibor said.

According to CDA CONSULT, the "Verify Before You Buy" campaign is a nationwide consumer empowerment initiative designed to encourage active verification before purchases are made. The campaign seeks to address the growing challenge of counterfeit goods, expired products, misleading labels, and fraudulent merchandise sold through physical markets, retail shops, and online platforms.

The initiative promotes a shared accountability model involving consumers, regulators, manufacturers, traders, and law enforcement agencies.

Built on four key pillars—education, awareness, action, and protection—the campaign positions regulatory institutions and law enforcement agencies as the backbone of product verification and enforcement while empowering consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

Mr. Ameyibor called on regulators, manufacturers, dealers, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and the general public to support the campaign in building a marketplace where product safety, authenticity, and quality are non-negotiable.

He noted that by making product verification a daily habit, Ghana can create a more accountable marketplace that rewards genuine businesses, protects consumers, and discourages the sale of counterfeit and substandard products.

CDA CONSULT has invited organizations and stakeholders interested in partnering on the "Verify Before You Buy" campaign to engage with the organization to help expand consumer awareness and protection efforts across the country.