Ghana Standards Board tasked to protect consumer interest

Trade and Industry Minister Hannah Tetteh

Trade and Industry Minister Hannah Tetteh has charged the Ghana Standards Board to assess the impact of high-risk goods on the country's economy, prevent the importation of cheap and substandard goods, and protect the interest of consumers.

She said "Items and goods found not conforming to our standards should be destroyed to serve as a deterrent to people in such shoddy business".

Ms Tetteh was speaking at the end of a workshop organized to prepare the Ministry's medium-term plan for 2010-2013 and to review its performance for the first quarter of 2010 at Koforidua.

It was attended by Chief Executives of agencies operating under the Ministry, including the National Board for Small Scale Industries, Rural Enterprises Project, CEDECOM, GRATIS Foundation, Ghana Heavy Equipment Limited, Ghana Standards Board, Ghana Export Promotion Council, Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, Export Development and Investment Fund, Ghana National Procurement Agency and Ghana Free Zones Board.

She asked the Standards Board to position personnel at all entry points of the country, not limiting its operations to the Kotoka International Airport.

The Minister commended the Board for setting up a destination inspection team to check the influx of shoddy and inferior goods into the country.

Ms Tetteh noted that government has decided to transform the Ghana Trade Fair into a modern facility of international standards by next year through a public-private partnership.

She commended all agencies working under the Ministry for their contribution to national development, tasking them to collaborate in implementing common or overlapping projects in order to save money.

Ms Tetteh said the Ministry has formed a taskforce to rid the country of pirated goods, especially textiles.

She cautioned that retail business is exclusive for Ghanaians and foreigners could only engage in such activity under strict regulations.

She added that the Tariff Advisory Board has been established to deal with complaints regarding dumping of goods on the Ghanaian market and to advice government on tariff related issues to ensure that all companies conform to the country's trade laws and policies.

Ms Tetteh assured that in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, her ministry has initiated a project to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises, and establish an Information and Communication Technology facility within the framework of the Free Zones Enclave with 50 acres of land earmarked.

She said the Furniture City project that forms part of the framework, seeks to support about 300 carpenters and craftsmen to improve upon their ingenuity and enable them create jobs.

Ms Tetteh said that a new transformer had been procured to improve power supply to the Free Zones Enclave.

She claimed that Africa has attracted investors, including Indians, who have set aside US$ 5 billion for businesses on the continent, with particular interest in Ghana because of the favourable and stable political climate.

Ms Tetteh said "They are looking for commercial partnership in Africa, especially from Ghana" and asked business entities in the country to brace themselves for an investor summit to be held at Accra International Conference Centre, Accra, from 24th to 25th May, 2010.

She called on the agencies to take advantage of the ongoing national policy fair and share their success stories with Ghanaians.