Ghana Standards Authority warns of export risks amid equipment delays

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) is facing challenges in replacing aging laboratory equipment due to delays in government authorization and approval processes, despite having the necessary funds available. Director-General Prof. George Agyei warned that these delays could jeopardize the Authority’s ability to test and certify products, potentially leading to a loss of international accreditation. Such a loss would hinder Ghanaian exporters, particularly in sectors like agriculture, where products such as fruit require testing for contaminants like heavy metals and pesticide residues to access global markets.

In a separate regional effort, the GSA Kumasi Office has urged businesses in the Ashanti Region to regularize their product certification and standards compliance ahead of the Christmas and end-of-year period. The Authority announced it will intensify market surveillance and enforcement activities to ensure consumer protection. While the GSA has praised companies that have successfully completed the certification process, it cautioned that businesses failing to respond to penalty notices or regularize their status could face regulatory action, including public naming.