More support for Ghana to improve standards, and boost trade
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
The United Kingdom (UK) has pledged increased support for Ghana to enhance trade through international standards.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) in collaboration with the British Standards Institution (BSI) on Wednesday recognised trading standards inspectors from the GSA who have recently completed training through the programme.
The partnership between the two has since November 2022 built the capacity of GSA’s staff at its inspectorate department as well as the newly commissioned Trading Standard Inspectors to help enforce standards nationwide.
It is designed to increase economic stability, boost sustainable and inclusive growth, support job creation and reduce poverty.
The programme supports governments and national standards bodies in Standards Partnership countries by helping to strengthen quality infrastructure and increase the use of international standards.
At a ceremony to present certificates to 123 inspectors yesterday in Accra , Team leader with the British Standards Institution , Mr Graham Holloway promised more funding for more training sessions. According to him, Ghana was one of the few countries to have trained and certified persons to promote standards.
“It’s a major achievement that in such a short time we’ve been able to achieve what we have achieved and we’re going to be doing more,” he stated.
The project, he maintained wouldn’t have taken place without financial support from the UK government, particularly the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) which administers the development budget.
Professor Alex Dodoo, Director General GSA, said: “we are delighted to be able to recognise the achievements of the trading standards inspectors, who will play a key role for GSA and towards our goal of boosting trade.”
“Through the Standards Partnership programme our capacity at GSA has expanded and it has contributed to a new workforce, through various activities and training. But also, wider than GSA, our partners and local organisations will benefit as we continue on the transformational journey and unleash the potential of Ghanaian industry,” Prof Dodoo explained.
The UK government’s Trade Envoy to Ghana, Baroness Catharine Hoey praised the trained officers for their commitment, encouraging them to apply the knowledge they had acquired.
“What has been achieved with all of you is going to make a difference, not just to Ghana but to the cause of getting standards all over the world that are internationally recognised. That when you travel you can feel confident that when you buy something in another country it is going to be the same standard as what you’ve been used to,” Baroness Hoey stated
In all, 123 persons were taken through internal audit and inspectors course and were presented with certificates.
The GSA Inspectors from October 2023 were taken through seven weeks of training on ISO 17020: 2012 and ISO 19011: 2018.
