The Executive Director of the Importers and Exporters Association, Samson Asaki Awingobit, has raised concerns about the growing circulation of substandard and counterfeit products in the Ghanaian market.
Speaking on the issue of counterfeit goods and poor-quality products on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Awingobit insisted it is heartbreaking for people to invest heavily through hard work only to see their businesses and properties collapse because of fake and substandard materials.
According to him, although the country’s ports are monitored by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and quality control officers, some fake products are produced locally in hidden locations and later pushed onto the market.
He referenced the recent controversy surrounding alleged substandard mattresses and questioned how some of the products managed to enter circulation.
Awingobit called for stronger surveillance and stricter enforcement against the production and sale of fake goods, stressing that both government agencies and citizens have a role to play in protecting consumers.
“We must all support the government in the surveillance of malpractices and the circulation of fake items in the market,” he stated.
He further urged authorities to ensure that all locally manufactured products receive approval from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) before being released to the market.
Awingobit warned that smugglers continue to exploit Ghana’s porous borders, making it easier for counterfeit goods to enter the country.
“Smugglers are very smart, and we have porous borders that are enhancing the inflow,” he cautioned.
He appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious products to the authorities, adding that regulatory bodies alone cannot monitor every product on the market.
“The FDA and GSA cannot be everywhere, so citizens must also do due diligence whenever they are patronizing products, especially consumables,” he advised.
