Ghana Standards Board tasked to protect interest of consumers

Accra, April 28, GNA - Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, has charged the Ghana Standards Board to assess the impact of high-risk goods on the country's economy, prevent the importation of cheap and substandard goods, and protect the interest of consumers. She said "Items and goods found not conforming to our standards should be destroyed to serve as a deterrent to people in such shoddy business". Ms. Tetteh was speaking at the end of a workshop organised to prepare the Ministry's medium-term plan for 2010-2013 and to review its performance for the first quarter of 2010, in Koforidua.

It was attended by Chief Executives of agencies, operating under the Ministry, including the National Board for Small Scale Industries, Rural Enterprises Project, CEDECOM, GRATIS Foundation, Ghana Heavy Equipment Limited, Ghana Standards Board, Ghana Export Promotion Council, Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, Export Development and Investment Fund, Ghana National Procurement Agency and Ghana Free Zones Board. Ms. Tetteh asked the Standards Board to position personnel at all entry points of the country and should not limit its operations to the Kotoka International Airport.

She commended the Board for setting up a destination inspection team to check the influx of shoddy and inferior goods into the country. Ms. Tetteh said that government had decided to transform the Ghana Trade Fair into a modern facility of international standards by next year, through a public-private partnership.

She commended all agencies working under the Ministry for their contribution to national development, and asked them to collaborate in implementing common or overlapping projects in order to save money. Ms. Tetteh said the Ministry has formed a taskforce to rid the country of pirated goods, especially textiles and cautioned that retail business was exclusive for Ghanaians and foreigners could only engage in such activity under strict regulations.

She said the Tariff Advisory Board has been established to deal with complaints regarding dumping of goods on the Ghanaian market and to advice government on tariff related issues to ensure that all companies conformed to the country's trade laws and policies. Ms. Tetteh said that the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications had initiated a project to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises, and established an Information and Communication Technology facility within the framework of the Free Zones Enclave with 50 acres of land earmarked. She said the Furniture City project that formed part of the framework, sought to support about 300 carpenters and craftsmen to improve upon their ingenuity to enable them to create jobs.

Ms. Tetteh said that a new transformer had been procured to improve power supply to the Free Zones Enclave. She said Africa had attracted investors including Indians, who had set aside US$ 5 billion for businesses on the continent, with particular interest in Ghana because of the favourable and stable political climate. Ms. Tetteh said "They are looking for commercial partnership in Africa, especially from Ghana" and asked the business entities in the country to brace themselves for an investor summit to be held at Accra International Conference Centre, Accra, from 24th to 25th May, 2010. She called on the agencies to take advantage of the ongoing national policy fair and share their success stories with Ghanaians. Mr. Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, said that plans to ensure smooth participation of Ghana at the SHANGHAI Expo 2010 were far advanced and the country's pavilion or stand at the fair was 95 per cent complete.

He gave the assurance that agencies operating under the Ministry and people operating in the private sector would be given equal opportunities to benefit from the Expo.