The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has launched the Ghana Digital Conformity Project in Kumasi, urging stakeholders to embrace the initiative as part of efforts to eliminate substandard electrical cables from the Ghanaian market.

The innovative project seeks to enhance the quality, safety, and authenticity of electrical cables using digital technology to combat counterfeiting and improve product conformity to national standards.

Under the system, certified electrical products are affixed with unique, digitally encoded conformity labels that can be verified using a mobile application.

Consumers and stakeholders could simply scan the label to confirm a product’s authenticity and compliance status in real time.

Mr Francis Mensah Akpaloo, Project Manager of the Digital Conformity Project, speaking at the launch, explained that the unique codes were generated by the programme managers, not manufacturers, with activation tied to the volume of products released onto the market.

He noted that the system incorporated advanced security features to prevent duplication or falsification of the labels, ensuring that only genuine products bearing the GSA’s approval reached consumers.

The project is currently being piloted but will be rolled out nationwide next year to ensure that only quality products are available on the market for the benefit of consumers.

The launch brought together key stakeholders, including electrical cable manufacturers, electrical contractors, and consumer representatives.

Dr Samuel K. Frimpong, Ashanti Regional Manager of the GSA, said the project goes beyond protecting consumers from inferior products.

It also seeks to promote fair competition and create a level playing field for genuine manufacturers.

He added that the initiative would strengthen the credibility of the Ghanaian market, boost consumer confidence, and enhance enforcement of national standards.

The system provides the GSA with real-time visibility into the market, making it easier to identify, track, and remove non-compliant products, Dr. Frimpong emphasised.