JoyNews’ latest Hotline documentary, American Paints: The Painter’s Galamsey, has uncovered the alarming presence of high-lead paints being sold on the Ghanaian market.

A study conducted by American researchers in collaboration with Ghana’s regulatory agencies found dangerously high levels of lead in locally sold paints. Out of 46 paint samples analyzed, 15 contained lead levels far above the acceptable limit of 90 parts per million (ppm).

This marks a sharp increase from 2023 when only six out of 59 samples tested exceeded safe lead levels. Even more concerning, some paints that previously met safety standards have now surpassed the 90 ppm threshold, with the highest lead content reaching a staggering 200,000 ppm.

Households using these paints unknowingly expose pregnant women and children to severe health risks, including irreversible brain damage and other neurological disorders. The affordability of these paints compared to locally manufactured ones appears to be driving their popularity.

However, these paints are not certified by the Ghana Standards Authority. The Authority’s CEO, Prof. Alex Dodoo, revealed that these so-called “American paints” are unregulated, creating a major gap in oversight.

A regulatory dispute has further complicated the issue. The Ghana Standards Authority claims that the mandate to regulate these imported paints has been handed over to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), while the FDA insists it has no jurisdiction over them, leaving the market unmonitored.

Freight forwarding agents have disclosed that some importers collaborate with customs officials to smuggle these hazardous paints into the country, avoiding statutory duties and bypassing regulatory scrutiny. Once on the local market, oversight becomes nearly impossible.

Jessica Nkansah, Director of the Inspectorate Directorate at the Ghana Standards Authority, has raised concerns about the conditions under which these paints are processed.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Technical Officer on Lead, Lovelace Sarpong, noted that while some local manufacturers have improved their lead standards since a 2013 United Nations Environment Programme investigation, uncertified imports remain a growing threat.

The label “American Paints” is a deceptive branding tactic that lures unsuspecting Ghanaians into purchasing cheap yet harmful products.

Without urgent intervention, these toxic paints will continue to endanger lives, particularly those of children, the most vulnerable victims of lead poisoning.

His entry “Robbing the Poor” was among 78 entries shortlisted for recognition out of the total of 111 entries filed.

GTV’s Akua Oforiwa Darko and Business & Financial Times’ Edward Adjei Frimpong, were also nominated for the category.

The ultimate winners will be honoured in 30 competitive award categories including Internal Marketing, Cocoa Financing, Processing, Value Addition, Innovation, Journalism and Sustainability.

Three distinguished personalities will also be accorded special recognition for their contribution to the cocoa sector.

The third annual Ghana Cocoa Awards Dinner is being organised under the auspices of the industry regulator, Ghana Cocoa Board, and takes place on November 12, 2021, at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra.

READ ON:

• JoyNews’ Kwetey Nartey wins big at 2021 West Africa Media Excellence Awards

• JoyNews’ Kwetey Nartey wins Journalist of the Year at Ghana Cocoa Awards 2020

The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board is the Special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker.

The event is set to mark Ghana’s biggest ever cocoa harvest in 142 years on the theme “Celebrating Ghana’s Historic Cocoa Production Milestone – A Golden Opportunity for the Local Value Addition Agenda.”

Ghana Cocoa Awards Dinner is an independent industry initiative that engenders networking while celebrating excellence.
 
 3RD GHANA COCOA AWARDS NOMINEES
 

1. ARTISANAL CHOCOLATIER OF THE YEAR
   ADANSI SWEET COMPANY LIMITED
   DECOKRAFT LIMITED
    
2. BEVERAGE OF THE YEAR
   GOLDEN POD CHOCOLATE DRINK
    
3. BRAND OF THE YEAR
   AGRICULTURAL MANUFACTURING GROUP LTD
   ECO INDEX AGRO SOLUTIONS
   FAIRAFRIC CHOCOLATE
   NICHE CHOCOLATE
   YARA GHANA
    
4. BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
   DANQUAH ADDO-YOBO (YARA GHANA)
   ERNEST AKWASI APPIAH (AMG)
   MICHAEL MARMON-HALM (FAIRAFRIC)
   MUHAMMADU MUZZAMMIL (ECOM GHANA)
   NICHOLAS KUMAH (ELIHO GHANA)
   YAW WIREKO KYEI (CHOCOMAC)
   YAYRATOR GLOVER (YAYRA GLOVER LTD)
    
5. CHANGE AGENT OF THE YEAR
   CHILD RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL
   FAIRTRADE AFRICA
    
6. CHOCOLATE BRAND OF THE YEAR (ARTISANAL)
   ADANSI SWEET LIMITED
   DECOKRAFT LIMITED
   MANSA GOLD
    
7. CHOCOLATE BRAND OF THE YEAR (CONVENTIONAL)
   FAIRAFRIC CHOCOLATE
   NICHE CHOCOLATE
    
8. COCOA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
   EDMUND AGYAPONG POKU
   MUHAMMADU MUZZAMMIL (ECOM GHANA)
    
9. COMPANY OF THE YEAR
   AGRICULTURAL MANUFACTURING GROUP LTD
   CHOCOMAC GHANA LTD
   ECOM GHANA
   ELIHO GHANA LIMITED
   NICHE COCOA INDUSTRY LTD
   YAYRA GLOVER
    
10. CONSUMPTION PROMOTION AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
11. EDWARD AMPORFUL
    DELA KUEKEY AUSTINE
     
12. CONSUMPTION PROMOTION CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
    DELFI VENTURES
    GOLDEN POD COCOA
     
13. EMERGING PROCESSING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
    KOA IMPACT GHANA LIMITED
    WEST AFRICAN MILLS CO. LTD (WAMCO)
    PLOT GHANA LTD
     
     
14. ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
    OHENEBA OFORI BOATENG (ECO INDEX AGRO SOLUTIONS)
     
15. FARMER COOPERATIVE OF THE YEAR
    ASUNAFO COOPERATIVE FARMERS UNION
    BIA WEST COOPERATIVE COCOA FARMERS
    KOKOO PA COOPERATIVE

SEFWI BEKWAI YOUTH COCOA COOPERATIVE
WEST AKYEM COOPERATIVE COCOA FARMERS
 

15. FINANCING INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR
    AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK
    STANBIC BANK GHANA
    UMB BANK
    ACCESS BANK
     
16. HAULAGE COMPANY OF THE YEAR
    AMP LOGISTICS (GH) LTD
    KITEKO GHANA LTD
     
17. LOGISTICS COMPANY OF THE YEAR
    AMP LOGISTICS (GH) LTD
    KITEKO GHANA LTD
     
18. INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
    COBEANS SPICES
    KOA POWDER
    DELFI VENTURES CHOCOLATE FACTORY & MUSEUM
     
19. JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
    AKUA OFORIWA DARKO – GTV
    EDWARD ADJEI FRIMPONG – B&FT
    KWETEY NARTEY – JOY NEWS
     
20. LBC OF THE YEAR (FOREIGN)
    ELIHO GHANA
    NYONKOPA COCOA BUYING
    ECOM GHANA
    ELIHO GHANA
     
21. LBC OF THE YEAR (INDIGENOUS)
    FEDERATED COMMODITIES GHANA LTD (FEDCO)
    CJ COMMODITIES LTD
    KUAPA COCOA
     
22. LBC OF THE YEAR (SUSTAINABLE COCOA)
    TOUTON GHANA
    NYONKOPA COCOA BUYING
    ECOM GHANA
    YAYRA GLOVER
     
23. EMERGING LBC OF THE YEAR
    CARGILL COCOA
    CJ COMMODITIES
    NANANOM COCOA
     
24. MARKETING PERSON OF THE YEAR
    KWAME OKYERE (YARA GHANA)
    VINCENT OKYERE AKOMEAH (CMC)
     
25. ORGANIC COCOA MARKETER OF THE YEAR
    YAYRA GLOVER LIMITED
     
26. OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION OF THE YEAR
    ECO INDEX AGRO SOLUTIONS
    FAIRAFRIC GHANA LIMITED
    KOA IMPACT GHANA LIMITED
     
27. PROCESSING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
    CHOCOMAC GHANA
    NICHE COCOA INDUSTRY LIMITED
     
28. TECHNOLOGY FOR COCOA VALUE CHAIN
    KOA IMPACT GHANA LIMITED
     
29. SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
    COCOA LIFE – ESP
    KOA IMPACT GHANA LIMITED
    TOUTON GHANA
     
30. SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR
    COCOA LIFE GHANA
    FAIRTRADE AFRICA
    KOA IMPACT GHANA LIMITED
    LINDT COCOA FARMING
    RAINFOREST ALLIANCE
     
31. SUSTAINABILITY PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
    ERNEST DWAMENA (TOUTON GHANA)
    YAA PEPRAH AMEKUDZI (COCOA LIFE GHANA)
    YAYRATOR GLOVER (YAYRA GLOVER LIMITED)

He won the Investigative Journalist of the Year award with his documentary ‘Robbing the Poor’ and the Overall Best Journalist for West Africa award.

The Overall Best Journalist Award was jointly won with a journalist from Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the Investigative Journalist thanked God for the honour and his colleagues for their continuous support.

Recounting some of the tough times in his career, Kwetey Nartey said among other things, that he received death threats after the documentary was broadcast.

He recounted “one night I couldn’t sleep. So, I called my colleagues and we shared experiences on how to handle the psychological challenge I was going through. This award gives me the relief that as long as we seek to expose the ills of society, our work will be rewarded one day.”

A total of 711 entries were received for the 2021 West Africa Media Excellence Awards, from 14 countries in West Africa. The five-member jury, after a thorough review of the entries, shortlisted 21 finalists from five countries.

JoyNews’ Araba Koomson, Seth Kwame Boateng and Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah were also nominated for various awards.