The Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Prof. George Agyei, on Thursday, August 20, 2026, chaired the 20th anniversary celebration of GS1 Ghana, the country’s leading barcode service provider, at Standards Heights at Ridge in Accra.
The event, held under the theme: “GS1 Barcode – A Tool for Sustainable Market Access,” assembled representatives from key government institutions, including the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI); the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA); the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA); as well as manufacturers; exporters and other industry stakeholders who use GS1 barcodes on their products.
In his address, Prof. Agyei underscored the critical role of barcodes in enhancing product visibility, traceability and market access. He stated that while product certification remains essential, a barcode serves as a unique identifier that enables products to be recognised and tracked across the market.
“You can obtain all the necessary certifications from the Ghana Standards Authority, but without a barcode, your product lacks a unique identity in the marketplace. A barcode is not a tax or levy; it is simply an identification system that makes products verifiable and traceable,” he stated.
Prof. Agyei further stressed that the GSA places significant importance on GS1 barcodes because they complement standards by ensuring that products can be accurately identified in both local and international markets.
In a later interaction with the media, Prof. Agyei encouraged manufacturers and businesses to adopt GS1 barcodes to enhance the competitiveness of their products. He also disclosed plans for closer collaboration between GSA and GS1 Ghana to integrate information systems and strengthen the credibility and acceptance of Ghanaian products in global markets.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GS1 Ghana, Mr. Kofi Nagetey, highlighted the organisation’s contribution to trade and commerce over the past two decades. He explained that GS1 is a global organisation dedicated to developing and promoting standards that facilitate efficient and seamless international trade.
“For the past 20 years, GS1 Ghana has been providing globally recognised identification standards for manufacturers, retailers and businesses involved in production and distribution,” he said.
The anniversary celebration also featured the presentation of plaques and certificates to companies that have maintained longstanding partnerships with GS1 Ghana, as well as staff members who have demonstrated dedicated service to the organisation over the years.
The GSA was honoured with a plaque in recognition of its pivotal role in promoting and maintaining standards.