Ministry warns importers of shoddy electrical goods

The Ministry of Trade and Industry on Thursday warned importers and distributors against importing shoddy and sub-standard electrical goods, saying the ministry would not sacrifice public safety and health at the expense of trade liberalisation.

Appiah Donyina, Senior Commercial Officer said as much as the government would continue to support the private sector to become the engine of growth, it would not allow importers to take advantage of the situation and flood the market with shoddy goods considered to be injurious to the health and safety of consumers.

Donyina was speaking at a meeting with officials of the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), GSBV Company Limited and importers and distributors of electrical goods in Accra.

The meeting was convened to discuss the need to maintain quality standards of imported electrical goods.

Nicholas Sosu, Acting Head of the Engineering Department of the GSB, said a two-month survey on conduit, surface and flexible cables in some parts of Accra found some with no brand names.

Of the 17 brands identified, there was no declaration of the materials used and weight of the reel and coil.

Also, not all the brands declared their trademarks. Most of the brands did not meet the manufacturer's own declared length.

Sosu advised importers to order goods based on specifications and should contact the GSB for the product's standard when in doubt.