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.

The post Director-General Chairs GS1 Ghana’s 20th Anniversary Celebration first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

Addressing concerns on the NVS during media interviews last week, the head of GSA’s Homologation Unit, Mr. Macmillan Prentice and the Ag. Head of Public Relations, Mr. Kofi Debrah, stated that a better regulated industry is good for all of us and that GSA seeks to protect lives and protect investments of Ghanaians, hence the enforcement of the NVS.

“Everything we are doing is geared towards protecting our consumers. These enforcement measures will go a long way to protect the environment, and we appeal to the public to support us in carrying out our mandate,” Mr. Debrah stated.

“The government of Ghana has given GSA the responsibility to protect consumers. The NVS exists to protect lives in the advent of any accidents,” Mr. Macmillan added.

They added that there are talks going on between sister agencies about how to handle old and rickety cars in the country and very soon a roadmap will be announced in that regard.

The GSA will prohibit the importation of used vehicles that are more than 15 years old; flood-damaged; burnt or fire damaged; vehicles with broken, cracked, bent or twisted chassis or safety-cage damaged, among others from October 1, 2026, under a revised framework for enforcing national vehicle standards.

The post Enforcement of National Vehicle Standards to Protect Consumers – GSA first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

The purpose of the visit was to formally introduce Dr. Frimpong as the incoming regional manager, to the Honorable Minister and to brief him on the state of GSA’s operations, activities, achievements, and ongoing projects in the region.

During the engagement, the outgoing Regional Manager highlighted some key projects and initiatives that would require the attention and support of both the minister and the incoming regional manager to ensure their successful completion.

A major issue raised was the calibration of medical equipment in hospitals across the region, covering both public and private health facilities. Mr. Duah stressed that the importance of ensuring that medical equipment is properly calibrated and fit for purpose cannot be overemphasized, particularly given the direct impact of accurate equipment on the quality and safety of healthcare delivery. He noted, however, that many hospitals often neglect this important requirement, citing inadequate funds as a major challenge.

Mr. Duah therefore appealed to the Minister to assist in mobilizing government support and intervention to ensure that hospitals in the region can have their medical equipment duly calibrated.

Another major issue discussed was the need for government and other key stakeholders to support the establishment of an ultramodern GSA laboratory and associated facilities in the Western-North Region.

Mr. Duah expressed the hope that the Regional Minister would champion these important initiatives and help mobilize the necessary support from government and other stakeholders for their realization.

The Regional Minister Brentum commended the outgoing Regional Manager, Mr. Godfred Duah, for his service, commitment and contribution to the development of GSA activities in the region.

He also welcomed the incoming Regional Manager, Dr. Samuel Frimpong, and pledged his full support and cooperation to the incoming Regional Manager and the GSA in their efforts to advance the development of the Western-North Region.

The post Outgoing, New GSA Western-North Regional Managers Call on Regional Minister first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

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The post Administrative Implementation Framework for Enforcement of National Vehicle Standards. first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

The PVoC programme, which is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026, will require all used vehicles imported into Ghana to comply with GS 4510:2022 – the national standard for used imported vehicles – prior to shipment from the country of origin.

The engagement, which forms part of the Authority’s efforts to prevent the importation of sub-standard, damaged and unsafe vehicles into the country, assembled journalists, bloggers and media practitioners from various media houses.

Under this new regime, accredited third-party inspection agencies will verify that vehicles meet Ghana’s prescribed safety, quality and environmental requirements before export.

Addressing the media, the Deputy Director-General in charge of General Services, Mr. Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, stated that the implementation of the programme stems from an extensive stakeholder consultation and has received broad industry support.

He further stated that the initiative seeks to address long-standing challenges associated with the importation of unsafe and damaged vehicles into the country.

“We are trying to plug a major loophole where waste, especially from the automotive industry, comes into our country as a dumping ground. That practice, which is killing our people and causing environmental hazards, will now become a thing of the past,” he stated.

Mr. Jabanyite announced that, in addition to the PVoC programme, the Authority will introduce the Vehicle Dealer Information System (VEDIS) to enhance the detection of stolen vehicles and strengthen collaboration among institutions involved in vehicle importation and registration.

According to him, VEDIS will integrate data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), insurance companies, Interpol, National Security and the GSA into a single digital platform, enabling real-time verification of vehicle records and improving the efficiency of regulatory oversight.

The engagement also featured a presentation by Mr. Kingsley Domena Yeboah, staff from the Vehicle and Homologation Unit. He outlined the implementation roadmap for the programme and explained that all used vehicles destined for Ghana will be required to undergo inspection and obtain a valid Certificate of Conformance before shipment from the exporting country.

He further indicated that Certificates of Conformance may be issued by approved third-party inspection bodies or through trained and licensed used vehicle dealerships operating under the programme.

The meeting ended with an interactive session during which the journalists sought clarification on various aspects of the programme and made their recommendations known to the Authority’s management.

The post GSA Engages Media on Implementation, Enforcement of National Vehicle Standards first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

The initiative was preceded by a sensitisation programme on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, was facilitated by Dr. Ohene Ansah Kissi and Dr. Darko Hene Wilberforce, medical officers from Ridge Hospital. It was aimed at educating staff on the importance of blood donation and the process involved.

The sensitisation opened with a welcome address by Madam Elizabeth Clare Nelson, the Ag. Director of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, who encouraged staff to be attentive and to take the opportunity to learn more about the life-saving impact of donating blood.

The Deputy Director-General in charge of operations, Dr. Mohammed Awal, in his remarks, called on staff to support the exercise. “Please, let us try as much as possible to donate this blood so that we can also save lives,” he urged, reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to giving back to society.

Dr. Kissi took participants through the eligibility requirements for blood donation and addressed common misconceptions surrounding the process. He assured staff that all prospective donors would undergo thorough screening to confirm their fitness before donation.

Dr. Darko spoke on the health benefits of blood donation, emphasising its positive effects on both recipients and donors. The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, during which staff sought further clarification and expressed enthusiasm for the exercise.

The actual blood donation took place on Wednesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 30, 2026. Staff turned out in large numbers to participate. As part of the process, free health screening was conducted for all donors prior to blood withdrawal to ensure their suitability.

The post GSA, Ridge Hospital Organize Blood Donation Exercise first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

He was speaking with an ITC delegation which visited the GSA head office on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to discuss its Centre for Africa model and agree on a focused 90-day pathway capable of creating tangible value for GSA and the businesses, investors or communities it serves.

Mr. Tristan Evans, who led the ITC team, underscored the critical role of standards, certification, and investor education in driving economic growth, stressing that the ITC plans to develop an all-inclusive publication that will serve as a practical guide for investors and exporters.

The guide, which the council hopes the GSA will help review, will simplify complex regulatory requirements and provide clear information on standards, conformity assessment procedures, and key regulatory agencies that businesses need to engage with.

Addressing the delegation, Prof. Agyei highlighted the GSA’s triple mandate – standards development, metrology and conformity assessment – and described the institution as a regional hub for technical services.

“We have the standard development systems; we are a metrology institute; and we carry out conformity assessment. These three roles are central to ensuring that products from Ghana satisfy destination market rules,” he said.

Prof. Agyei welcomed ITC’s proposed practical guidance and capacity-building initiatives, stressing that technical documents and accessible education resources are essential for firms to understand and comply with standards.

The Director-General thanked the ITC delegation for the visit and its decision to choose Ghana as its Africa headquarters, assuring the team that his outfit stands ready to work closely with ITC and other partners to make standards accessible, enforceable, and useful so that Ghanaian businesses can meet global requirements and reap fair returns for their products.

Also present in the meeting were Hon. Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, the DDG-GEN; Dr. Paul Osei Fosu, Director of Physical Science; Mr. Samuel Sackitey, Director of Finance; Mr. George Kojo Anti, Head of International Relations; Ms. Barbara Wuttor Asem, the Director of Administration; Ms. Pokuaa Appiah-Kusi, Head of Legal and Godwin Adinan, Head of Partnerships.

Established in 1956 as a peak-body multilateral trade development agency and global chamber of commerce, the ITC represents foreign direct investment promotion and export-market development interests across 176 economic development agencies, 418 chambers of commerce and industry associations, and approximately 28,000 corporations worldwide.

The post GSA Pledges Partnership with ITC to Boost Standards Capacity, Investor Confidence first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

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The post STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE NATIONAL VEHICLE HOMOLOGATION AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME FROM 1 OCTOBER 2026 first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

The partnership programme with the BSI under the UK-funded Standards Partnership Programme, focuses on building technical capacity of GSA and strengthening the quality infrastructure to enhance trade and protect consumers.

The BSI representative, Mr. Volodymyr Yakubov, stated that the reason for their visit was to listen and solicit ideas to improve the programme.

“It’s always a pleasure to meet with you all and discuss this important partnership we have. This continued partnership will help align local regulations with international practices to reduce trade barriers and support integration into frameworks like the AfCFTA, improving product safety and regulatory enforcement to eliminate sub-standard goods on domestic and export markets,” he said.

This collaboration aims to strengthen Ghana’s national quality infrastructure, enhance technical capacity for inspectors, and facilitate international trade.

Professor George Agyei, the Director-General of the GSA, during the meeting, expressed the Authority’s appreciation for the BSI support over the years, noting that it has really helped the organisation to develop skills and expertise in various areas.

He further emphasised the crucial role of Trading Standards Inspectors (TSIs) in enforcing market rules, adding that plans are in place to open more offices across the country so that standards could be enforced, stressing that adherence to international standards builds trust and drives economic growth.

He also told the BSI representatives that GSA is working on a digital conformity assessment programme to enhance the work of GSA.

The Director of Certification, Ms. Joyce Okoree, added that they will train their new officers and organise workshops for the experts to acquire more knowledge about standards to help prevent more sub-standard goods on the market.

The post BSI Representatives Meet GSA Management first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.

The President of the GAMLS, Mr. Eric Kofi Aidoo, stated that their visit is to strengthen collaboration between GAMLS and GSA in enhancing the quality, safety, reliability, and international recognition of medical laboratory services in Ghana.

He added that medical laboratories depend on internationally accepted standards to ensure competence, accurate and reliable results, patient safety, measurement traceability, and continuous quality improvement and GSA sits at the centre of that infrastructure.

The Vice President of the Association, Dr. Solomon Kwashie, presented on key areas for collaboration which includes collaborate to develop a National Standard for Medical Laboratory Design and Infrastructure, establish standards covering laboratory design, biosafety, engineering requirements, environmental controls, and sustainability, affordable access to ISO 15189 and ISO 15190, reduced pricing or institutional licensing for essential laboratory standards, improved access to related normative standards to promote accreditation.

Dr. Kwashie appealed for special or subsidised calibration pricing for medical laboratories, enhanced metrological support and measurement traceability access to certified reference materials and national calibration programmes.

He also added that the collaboration will increase participation of medical laboratory scientists in national standards development, technical and mirror committees, and the review of laboratory-related standards and together.

“GSA and GAMLS can harmonise laboratory standards nationally, promote laboratory accreditation, improve confidence in laboratory results, strengthen public health and disease surveillance, and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness in laboratory medicine,” he said.

Professor Agyei, in response to the Association’s key collaboration areas stated that GSA is a non-profitable organisation so the country will benefit from the important partnership.

The Director of Standards, Ms. Alice Donya, told the team that GSA have adopted ISO 15189 which is the standard for medical laboratory, adding that the building code is also an important standard GAMLS should not ignore when building medical laboratories.

Professor Agyei said that his institution was ever ready to support them in their activities and that they should invite them to the meetings and engagements so they can all learn something from each other.

The post GSA to Collaborate with Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists first appeared on Ghana Standards Authority.