The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Prof Alex Dodoo has clarified that standards set by the authority are typically voluntary unless explicitly declared mandatory by the public or through legal processes.

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According to Prof Dodoo, while the GSA aims to uphold high standards, the enforcement of these standards depends on specific legal frameworks that require public or governmental declaration.

“All standards are actually voluntary, unless the public decides to declare them as mandatory,” Prof Dodoo explained.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday, March 10, he emphasised that, by law, authorities can only enforce standards as mandatory if there is a clear declaration or directive to do so.

Prof Dodoo pointed out that in cases where individuals or businesses are taken to court for non-compliance with GSA standards, the lack of mandatory enforcement could result in the dismissal of the case.

“If you haven’t intentionally made them mandatory, most lawyers will take the case off,” he stated, referring to the challenges the GSA faces in holding businesses accountable without legal backing to enforce the standards.

He further mentioned that in certain sectors like food and medicine, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has the legal mandate to declare certain standards as mandatory, as seen with the regulation of food and drug safety.

“When it comes to food and medicines, the FDA will declare them mandatory under the Food and Drugs Board,” Prof Dodoo said.

However, he acknowledged that the GSA does try to stretch the interpretation of the law to ensure that products in the market meet acceptable standards, but ultimately, the authority’s enforcement powers are restricted unless specific legal actions are taken to make them compulsory.