Ghana is making steady, though incomplete, progress in adhering to standards, according to Dr. Awal Mohamed, Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations at the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

Speaking at a JoyNews National Dialogue on declining standards, Dr. Mohamed acknowledged significant hurdles remain, particularly in enforcement, public education, and the affordability of standardized goods.

He cautioned against simplistic assessments of compliance, emphasizing the need to consider Ghana’s unique socio-economic context. “Assessing compliance cannot be reduced to simple numerical comparisons without considering the country’s broader socio-economic realities,” he stated.

Dr. Mohamed noted that awareness of standards is growing among Ghanaians, but widespread adoption will be a gradual process. “For adherence to standards, I would say Ghanaians are getting to understand them better, and we are gradually enforcing some of them. But because communities have used local products for a long time, implementing and enforcing standards will naturally take time,” he explained.

When pressed for a rating of Ghana’s current standards compliance, Dr. Mohamed placed it between five and six out of ten. “If I were to rate where we are as a country, I would say maybe a six. We are beginning to understand what needs to be implemented and adhered to, even though challenges remain,” he said.

He stressed that effective enforcement requires a well-informed public. “Sustained public education is critical to improving compliance; enforcement alone will not yield results without broad public understanding,” Dr. Mohamed added.

A key challenge, he highlighted, is price sensitivity. Consumers often prioritize affordability over quality, as standardized products typically come with a higher cost. “When a product meets standards, it is likely to be more expensive, and many consumers focus on price rather than quality,” he observed.

Despite these obstacles, Dr. Mohamed expressed optimism. He believes that continued education, strengthened enforcement, and collaboration among stakeholders will lead to further improvements in standards compliance across the nation.

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