The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) will commission 264 additional Trading Standards Inspectors on December 3, 2026, as part of efforts to prevent substandard goods from reaching consumers during the Christmas season.

The new officers, who form the Authority’s third batch of recruits, have undergone training and received the necessary equipment to support market intelligence, product inspections and enforcement activities.

Deputy Director-General of the GSA, Samuel Abdulai, disclosed the development, explaining that the expanded inspectorate would strengthen the Authority’s ability to monitor products and enforce national standards across the country.

He said the commissioning would increase the number of officers available to identify and remove inferior products from the market.

GSA expands nationwide market surveillance

Mr Abdulai said the Authority’s objective was to extend enforcement beyond Accra and ensure that goods sold across the country meet the required standards.

He explained that the new inspectors would work with existing regional offices to improve monitoring and respond to reports of substandard products.

The GSA also plans to extend its enforcement activities to Ghana’s borders, where its officers are collaborating with other security agencies to prevent non-compliant goods from entering the country.

The move is expected to strengthen checks on imported products and protect consumers from goods that fail to meet approved quality and safety requirements.

Christmas shopping season prompts stronger checks

The additional inspectors are expected to support the GSA’s efforts during the Christmas period, when consumer spending and demand for goods usually increase.

The Authority has been encouraging businesses to comply with national standards and regularise their operations ahead of the festive season.

In September, the GSA appealed to businesses in Kumasi to ensure compliance, warning that market surveillance and enforcement activities would be intensified.

The expanded inspectorate, together with the Authority’s regional offices and cooperation with security agencies, is expected to improve consumer protection nationwide.

Consumers encouraged to report fake products

The GSA has also encouraged consumers to report suspected counterfeit and substandard products to the Authority.

Consumers who identify suspected fake products can contact the GSA on 0302 500 065/6 for assistance.

The Authority says its enforcement activities are aimed at protecting public health and safety while promoting fair trading practices and ensuring that businesses comply with national standards.

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