The Consumer Protection Agency has uncovered more than 133 products currently being sold on the Ghanaian market without registration from either the Ghana Standards Authority or the Food and Drugs Authority, raising fresh concerns over consumer safety and regulatory compliance.
In a statement issued on Thursday, May 21, the CPA said findings from its market surveillance exercise point to widespread violations involving products that bypass mandatory testing and certification processes before being offered for sale to consumers.
The Agency, however, commended the Ghana Standards Authority for recent enforcement actions targeting substandard goods, including the closure of a mattress manufacturing company accused of using unapproved materials and a swoop at the China Mall to remove non-compliant products from shelves.
According to the CPA, the latest actions by the GSA demonstrate renewed commitment toward protecting consumers and safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s standards and quality assurance systems.
Despite the enforcement measures, the CPA warned that the influx of unregistered products remains a major threat to public health and the local economy. It noted that many of the products enter the country through smuggling routes, enabling importers to evade taxes and import duties while creating unfair competition for businesses that comply with regulations.
The Agency further cautioned that unregistered products expose consumers to potential health and safety risks because they are not subjected to the required regulatory assessments and certification procedures by the appropriate authorities.
The CPA has therefore called on the GSA, FDA, Ghana Revenue Authority, and other relevant state institutions to intensify joint enforcement operations and immediately remove all non-compliant products from the market.
It also pledged its readiness to collaborate with regulators by sharing surveillance data and supporting public education campaigns aimed at promoting awareness of product compliance and consumer protection.
