Ghanaians urged to embrace the use of weighing scales

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has asked Ghanaians to embrace the use of weighing scales in their interactions and business transactions.

He said measurement played a crucial role in people’s daily lives, and was important for socio-economic development.

The deputy minister made the call at this year’s World Metrology Day celebration in Accra on Monday.

The day is on the theme: “Measurements in Daily Lives.” It focuses on the importance of the use of weighing scales in trading activities, to ensure fairness to both the buyer and the seller.

Metrology is the science of measurement that embraces both experimental and theoretical measurements and determination at any level of uncertainty of science and technology.

The day was organized by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

Nii Vanderpuye explained that metrology played a crucial role in the science of measurement and in the area of sale of foodstuffs, saying that, there was the need to encourage the use of weighing scales in business transactions to ensure fair trade.

“We should not forget to take note of, and also apply the relevance of accurate and reliable measurements in whatever we do to make it more meaningful, appropriate and relevant to the country.”

He assured the GSA of the Ministry’s encouragement and support to ensure that the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies effectively sensitized and educated the public on the need to use weighing scales in trade.

Mr Kwabena Acheampong, Head of Metrology of GSA, who gave an overview of metrology services, said metrology activities covered the areas of legal, science and industry, adding, it was the government’s role to give society the means to establish confidence in measurement results for the manufacturers, traders and consumers to take informed decisions.

He noted that to fulfill the responsibility of government over the management of oil and gas resources relative to measurement and transparency, there was an urgent need to take immediate steps to construct and install equipment to serve the upstream sector.

Dr George Ben Crentsil, Chief Executive Officer of GSA, appealed to Ghanaians to embrace the campaign for the use of weighing scales in all trading activities as demanded by law.