GSA shuts down company producing substandard mattress
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has shut down ZXZ Company Limited, a Chinese-owned firm producing the Moonda brand of mattresses in Afienya. The company was found to be using uncertified products during a market survey conducted by the GSA.
The company, which is not registered with the GSA, was found to be trading substandard mattresses using unapproved materials, posing a danger to consumers. The company was also found to be assembling televisions, fridges, and sound bar speakers under the brand name Asano without registering with the GSA.
The company was using polystyrene instead of polyurethane in the production of mattresses, which is not acceptable according to GSA regulations and standards. The supervisor of the company admitted to not having the required licence to operate and agreed to shut down the facility until the right procedures were followed.
The Head of Special Products Unit of GSA, George Anti, emphasized the importance of adhering to approved standards and ensuring that every product on the market is authorized. The GSA will ensure that the substandard products are discarded and proper certifications obtained before allowing the factory to resume operations.
The GSA also discovered a Chinese-owned plastic recycling plant operating without a licence at the Bright International Industrial Zone, sending a word of caution to all foreign-owned manufacturing companies to register with the Authority to avoid punitive measures.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has raised concerns about foreign-owned businesses flooding the market with substandard goods, impacting local competitors like Ashform and Latex Foam. AGI calls for Chinese firms to operate according to national regulations, pay the right taxes, and produce quality goods and services to create a fair playing ground for all manufacturers and investors.