GSA gets World Bank support to improve standardisation

By Isaac AIDOO, Accra

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has received a modern Heavy-Duty Truck with a Hydraulic Crane to be used primarily for the purposes of lifting test weights required for the meticulous verification and calibration of weighbridges in the country.

The project is to promote private investments and firm growth in non-resource-based sectors

The support comes under the $200million World Bank sponsored Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP).

Unveiling the new truck, the Minister of Trade and Industry (MoTI), Mr Kobina Tahiru Hammond at the office  of the Authority in Accra last Thursday, was unhappy about the fact that “we don’t have standards; they are not in place at all and efforts are underway to make standards part and parcel of our systems.”

The Minister acknowledged Ghana’s indebtedness to the World Bank for the support received under the GETP.

“It’s important to put on record our indebtedness to the World Bank and  we are indeed grateful for the formidable work you have done and the considerable financial assistance given us to be able to set off to make sure standards are in place, “ Mr Hammond stated.

He disclosed that he had issued directives to institutions that had anything to do with the establishment of cement factories in the country.

 Mr Thomas Vis of the World Bank Group in charge of private sector development in Ghana and other countries in sub- Saharan Africa said the truck was one of the sub components in support of the GSA.

“This is one of the many interventions we have made for GSA which form part of a $10million support programme which is set to see an increase,” he disclosed.

Mr Vis explained that standardisation starts with weights and measurements so this truck will be used around Ghana probably starting in the south of the ports looking at what goes onto the ships among other weights.

Mr Vis pointed out that “this truck and others to come in future which the World Bank intends to support will allow GSA to do those things it has been doing but to do them better.”

Countries around the world are driven by standards, you cannot trade you cannot invest without standards, people need to know what you have; what you trade and that’s where you get confidence.

The World Bank official observed that in spite of the challenges faced by Ghana on the micro fiscal side, “Ghana is trying to pursue very strong private sector development and standards are pivotal, it’s absolutely critical.”