Ghana Standard Boards to get tough

The Ghana Standards Board (GSB) has vowed to go all out to ensure quality standards of imported and locally produced goods that fall under its purview. It has, therefore, called on members of the public to volunteer information on the sale and production of sub-standard goods to enable the market survey team of the board to flush them out.

Mr Anthony E. Owusu, a Deputy Director of the GSB, who said this in an interview in Accra said among items that come under GSB’s supervision are imported and locally manufactured builders materials and selected electrical gadgets.

He said the Ministries of Health, and Trade and Industries signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2001, to enable an effective monitoring and supervision of goods that are sold on the market to ensure high standards and quality.

He explained that after the memorandum of understanding, goods on the Ghanaian market were categorized into three and given to specific organizations to monitor. Mr Owusu said among the organizations are Gateway Services Limited, which does destination inspection, particularly at the Tema and Takoradi harbours using an X-ray scanner, and GSBV, which does land entry point inspection of goods at Aflao and Paga, as well as airport inspection of goods destined for Ghana.

He said the GSBV is also responsible for high risk goods,” including food and drugs and some electrical gadgets. Mr Owusu said GSB comes in when GSBV wants it to test its goods for the company.

He said the Food and Drugs Board is also responsible for the certification of cosmetics, medical devices, household goods and chemicals. He said the GSB conducts market surveillance on a monthly basis to ensure that goods which falls under its purview are of the required standard.

He said the GSB also conducts tests for the other bodies, upon request, for a fee, upon request, for a fee, due to its efficient laboratory equipment.