The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has sounded the alarm over the influx of fake and substandard baby diapers into Ghana, many of which have been rejected in their countries of origin due to safety concerns.
According to the CPA, weak enforcement of regulations is enabling unscrupulous importers to flood local markets with these hazardous products.
In a recent crackdown, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) confiscated and incinerated over one million pieces of substandard diapers following complaints from parents about diaper-related rashes, infections, and discomfort.
The CPA’s investigation revealed that some of these diapers are rejected during production in their home countries and end up in the trash, only to be collected, repackaged, and sold in Ghana.
“We do not have a problem with importing diapers into the country, but they have to go through rigorous tests that have been confirmed with the FDA and the Ghana Standards Authority,” said Nana Prempeh Aduhene, Executive Director of Mediation and Arbitration at the CPA.
Aduhene expressed surprise that banned diapers had found their way into the country, stating, “All these diapers we are talking about, FDA told us they were banned from coming into the country, so we are surprised that they have found their way into the country.”
The CPA’s investigation suggests that China is likely the source of the rejected products.
Aduhene noted, “Our investigation shows that some of these diapers are rejected in their home countries. When they are going through production, some of these diapers are rejected, and they end up in the trash can. But because of greed, somebody goes there, picks them up, bags them into a container, brings them to Ghana, and then repacks them into plain poly bags, and then they sell them on the market.”
The FDA and CPA are working together to address the issue and protect consumers.