The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has appealed to the Ministry of Finance to fast-track Commitment Authorization for the Authority, saying delays have left more than GH¢60 million of its allocated budget unutilised.
Speaking at the GSA’s 2025 Stakeholders Annual Conference in Accra, Director-General Professor George Agyei said the delays were affecting critical operations, particularly the testing of samples.
He said most of the Authority’s testing equipment had become obsolete and urgently needed replacement, but procurement processes had stalled due to the delays in securing the necessary authorization.
“Most of the delays in sample testing we experience are because of commitment authorization delays. Over GH¢60 million could not be exhausted because of clearance issues,” Prof. Agyei said.
He explained that the GSA’s laboratories operate according to international standards and undergo regular inspections and audits, making modern and reliable equipment essential to maintaining their certification and accreditation.
Prof. Agyei warned that failure to meet the required standards could affect Ghana’s ability to export products to international markets.
“If we don’t meet the required standards, our certification and accreditation will be taken away. And when these things are taken away, it means Ghana cannot export,” he said.
He therefore urged the Finance Ministry to expedite the authorization process to enable the GSA to procure the equipment needed to effectively perform its mandate.
Meanwhile, the GSA is set to begin calibrating weighing scales used in the gold trade across the country to ensure accuracy and prevent traders from being shortchanged.
Prof. Agyei said the Authority is working with GoldBod to ensure licensed gold dealers use properly calibrated weighing equipment.
On the GSA’s performance, he disclosed that the Authority recorded a GH¢29 million surplus, describing the achievement as a reflection of its resilience despite the operational challenges.
He urged the public and industry players to continue supporting and collaborating with the Authority to promote standards and strengthen trade in Ghana.
