GWCL expired water chemicals were safe

Water treatment chemicals used by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) were found to be safe for use by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) - even though they had passed the expiry date, according to a report by The Informer newspaper.

A letter dated 9th January 2013, to the Sector Commander of Tema Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), following an analytical test conducted on the aluminium sulphate by the GSA, stated: “Despite the expiry date indicated on its label, the product can be used for the intended purpose.


“Kindly find attached copy of test report on the sample; aluminum sulphate imported from China by Ghana Water Company/AVRL, submitted to us for evaluation of quality.


“The test results indicate that they met the requirement of the parameters tested. The goods may be released to the importer, please."

The Informer newspaper found that, of the required specifications of 17.0 (minimum) and 0.01 (maximum) of the aluminum and the iron content respectively, were 17.18 and 0.003.


The test report suggests that the chemical imported by Santa Baron Ventures Limited for use by GWCL was not toxic and will not endanger the lives of Ghanaians as recent media reports have suggested.