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Regulatory standards must be in line
with international practices
Accra, Oct. 13, Ghanadot/GNA - Standards and Regulatory
bodies have been urged to approach standardization and its
related activities in an integrated manner that should be in
line with international best practices.
Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, a deputy Minister of Ministry
of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and
President's Special Initiative said, "A fragmented approach
will not augur well for the nation's growth and development
since standardization is the foundation for industrial and
economic growth, hence sustainable development and good
public governance".
Speaking at the 38th World Standards Day on Friday in Accra
under the theme, "Standards and the Citizen: Contributing to
Society" Ms. Botchwey noted that standards affected every
aspect of human life that made life easier, healthier and
the world a safer place to live in.
The occasion is also to celebrate the 40th anniversary of
Ghana Standards Board, 50 years of Ghana's independence and
60 years of International Organization of Standardization Ms
Botwe said public policies could not be developed and
implemented in isolation when they impacted on trade,
health, security or environment.
World Standards Day is celebrated worldwide every October 14
and it is aimed raising awareness of importance of
international standardization to the world economy and
promotes its role in helping meet the needs of all business
sectors.
The Deputy Minister of Trade expressed concern that consumer
protection, environmental protection, sustainable protection
of natural resources, safety at work, environmental
friendliness of products and manufacturing process were
becoming important in the promotion of an ecological,
economical and socially sustainable development.
She called on the citizenry to eschew mediocrity, insist on
their rights and embrace standards for a better, safer and
healthier life on the day which was to raise awareness of
the importance of international standardization to the world
economy and promote its role in helping meet the needs of
all business sectors.
Mr Maxwell Kofi Dwumor, a deputy Minister of Local
Government and Rural Development said the ministry would
soon mount a nationwide sensitization and educational
campaign on the use of bar codes for exporters in planning
and execution of their export orders.
He said another campaign would also be launched in
productivity improvement in which firms in small and medium
sized categories would be assisted to install quality
management systems in their workplaces.
Mr Adu Gyamfi Darkwa, Executive Director of GSB noted that
Ghana, other developing countries together and transitional
economies were confronted with challenges in the areas of
quality and confirmation of compliance and needed
improvement in those areas.
He called for effective implementation of sustainable
development and facilitation of trade that would embrace
metrology, standardization and conformity assessment, which
were the three pillars used by business and government for
economic growth and sustainable development.
Fraternal messages from other stakeholders called for the
enforcement of regulations on standards for sustainable
development and to ensure the safer and quality health of
the people.
Nana Odeheno Gyapong Ababio II, President of National House
of Chiefs who chaired the function urged GSB to intensify
its efforts to enable it realise its vision of becoming the
leading national standards body on the continent.
GNA
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