'Empower us to slap fines on entities that flout standards laws' - GSA

Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) is calling for more power to allow it impose fines on entities that flout the country’s standards laws.

According to the Director-General of the GSA, the call is necessary to empower the authority to discharge its duties and grant it the needed financial backing in collection of the fines.

“Our expectations are that the Ghana Standards Authority will be given the powers to fine because when you see a petroleum station undercharging you only collect GHS5,000; it is not even a deterrent because they make more than that in a day. We want strong punitive sanctions.

But if going to court will take you about two years in just one case, it is not even possible. We are hoping that we will be given the powers to literally bite because in a developing country like ours if you don’t enforce the laws, there is no point having them,” Prof. Alex Dodoo told Citi Business News.

He added that Ghana must emulate the global best practice by giving the GSA power to sanction entities that flout Ghana's standards laws.