Traders Challenge Standards Board

Importers and traders have challenged the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) to provide them with specific standards for the importation of goods into the country. The importers and traders were reacting to a meeting held last Thursday among officials of GSB, GSBV Company Limited, and representatives of traders and importers to discuss the maintenance of quality standards of imported electrical goods.

GSB and GSBV have responsibility for inspecting goods, which enter or leave the country. But in recent times the two have come under public scrutiny for poor performance, resulting in the dumping of shoddy goods on the local market. During the deliberations it wasn't clear who should be blamed for the flooding of shoddy electrical appliances on the Ghanaian market. While some importers blamed GSBV, others blamed GSB for not keeping a close eye on importers, some of who use the country's scarce foreign exchange to import anything into the country.

Consumers who heard about the buck passing pointed accusing fingers at the traders. But they also noted that over the years, the GSB has failed to insist on specified standards. They complained that halfhearted manner in which GSB operated in the past opened the doors for all manner of goods, from Dubai, China, Taiwan, Singapore and other South East Asian countries.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA), Paa Kofi Ansong laid the blame for shoddy imports squarely at the doorstep of the inspection agencies. "They've been clearing all kinds of goods which are dumped on our market," he lamented.

Ansong disclosed that many importers and traders do not know of any standards in the country, so they go to the international market and import whatever they think will sell, into the country.

He said, importers are willing to abide by the standards set by the GSB, but, "if you have a law which is dormant, it ceases to be law." He challenged the GSB to set the standards for Ghanaian traders, who will then be compelled to relay them to the manufacturing countries.

A market survey conducted by The Accra Mail last week revealed the presence of various imitation goods in Accra. Our team found 'Pilihps' bulbs and radios for the original Philips', 'Kwik shoe polish' for Kiwi, 'Sunny' for Sony, 'Ester' conned beef for the original Exeter, 'Seicko watch' for the original Seiko etc. Most of the items are without brand names and countries of origin.

The most dangerous of these imports are the consumables like biscuits and canned drinks, which have no expiry dates or information on what additives they contain.

Fire service officials recently attributed many fires in Accra to defective electrical goods. Probably alarmed by the situation, the Trade Ministry last week warned importers and distributors against importing shoddy and sub-standard electrical goods. A statement from the Ministry said it would not sacrifice public safety and health at the expense of trade liberalisation.