GSB takes measures to protect consumers

Elmina (C/R), Nov 28, GNA- The Ghana Standards Board (GSB) has instituted a task force to inspect products and close down companies that have illegally embossed the board's mark on their products.

The Acting Executive Director of the board, Mr Nimo Ahenkora, said on Friday that the board would also recommend the prosecution of defaulting companies, since their action is tantamount to fraud and endangering public health.

He said this at a workshop to re-launch and promote the board's mark of conformity.

It is aimed at educating stakeholders on the significance of the mark as well as the harm caused by its indiscriminate and unauthorised use.

It is being organised by the board in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiative (PSI), under the sponsorship of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF).

About 50 stakeholders from both the private and public sectors, including the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), and small-scale industrialists and traders, are attending.

Mr Ahenkora stressed the importance of the mark, an 'adinkra' symbol, 'hwe mo yie', which literally means critical assessment, to ensuring quality goods and services in the country.

He said it is unacceptable that some unscrupulous manufacturers are imitating the mark and are embossing them on their products, thus making it difficult for consumers to discern which products had genuinely been certified.

''Members of the task force, known as 'Shooters' will therefore be very vigilant in the performance of their duties, especially as some manufacturers would want to take advantage of the Yuletide to flood the market with shoddy goods'', he said.

He said the effect of the illegal and undesirable use of the mark, among others compromises the health and safety of consumers and loss of consumer confidence in local products.

On the efficiency of his outfit, Mr. Ahenkora said it is adequately resourced to administer the 'products certification scheme' and that it had qualified and well motivated staff to man its chemical and engineering laboratories to analyse all manner of products.

In an address read for him, Mr. Alan Kyeremanteng, Minister of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiatives, stressed the importance of production of quality goods for both local and international markets.

He said standards have a crucial role to play and that, businessmen who care nothing as to whether their products are good or bad create problems for the nation with regard to socio-economic growth.

Mr Kyeremateng said such actions have various repercussions at both national and international levels and could dent the nation's image abroad.

Such actions could also result in legal action against the company involved.

In an address read for him, the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, stressed the importance of ensuring quality goods and services.

He expressed concern that the current situation is resulting in a gradual loss of consumer confidence in local goods.

He cited the example of the proliferation of the production of sachet water and said he is pleased the board had taken measures to bring sanity into that industry.

The KAF representative in Ghana, Mr Johannes Rey, touched on the importance of ensuring that the nation's products also meet the requirements of the International Organisation for Standards (IOS) of which the GSB is a member.

He said the GSB had a lot of work to do in the sensitisation of the public but cautioned against "over regulating standards".