The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) will this week mark the 2024 World Standards Day (WSD), which is celebrated on October 14 each year, to raise awareness about the importance of standards and their impact on various aspects of lives.

The Day is a global observance to recognise the critical role that international standards play in ensuring the quality, safety, and interoperability of products and services across diverse industries. It also commemorates the signing of the United Nations’ World Standards Cooperation Charter in 1947.

These standards, developed by organisations like the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), play a pivotal role in ensuring quality, safety, and innovation across various industries.

Each year, WSD adopts a theme to spotlight specific areas where standards play a crucial role.

The 2024 theme: "Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for the Changing Climate", focuses on how standards can play a critical role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, environmental conservation, and sustainable development. It underscores how standards help create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable world.

The GSA will join the global community in observing this year’s Standards Day with series of activities to be held at the Authority’s Head Office at Shiashie in Accra, from Wednesday, October 9, 2024, to Monday, October 14, 2024, which will be the climax of the celebration. Activities lined up for the celebration are:

Day 1 (October 9): Sensitisation sessions led by technical directorates on topics like quality standards, water quality, and the potential of hydrogen generation for climate change mitigation.

 - Day 2 (October 10): A tour of the GSA facilities, including laboratories, for selected institutions and industry representatives.

-Day 3 (October 11): A panel discussion on the World Standards Day theme, featuring experts in standards and climate change, will be held to discuss the role of standards in creating a sustainable future.

-Climax Day (October 14): Flag raising ceremony at the forecourt of the GSA Administration Block.

The GSA extends an invitation to stakeholders, regulatory institutions, research institutions, and the public to participate in this event.

As we celebrate the importance of standards in our society, we call on government, stakeholders, partners, and the public to make use of our standards to ensure an efficient and robust economy.