The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has shut down some mattress manufacturing companies at Afienya near Tema in the Greater Accra Region for allegedly producing mattresses with substandard materials.
The companies which include Yin Yuan Jia Limited, and Mooda Limited, Hue Sheng Company, producers of Kalusini mattresses and Asano service is accused of using polystyrene instead of the approved polyurethane in the production of mattresses.
Polystyrene is commonly used as a protective packaging material for electronic gadgets and household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, and blenders.
Speaking during the operation on Monday May 18, the Regional Manager of the Ghana Standards Authority, Clement Kubati, said the Chinese-owned company was using inferior materials in the production of mattresses for the local market, posing potential risks to human health and the environment.
According to him, chemicals used in the production process were unapproved and failed GSA quality tests.
“This is the chemical they use in the manufacture of this substandard mattresses, polyethylene. As far as GSA is concerned, this chemical is not approved. It’s unapproved. These are non-biodegradable chemicals. They have impact on the environment, as well as human health” he said.
