The Greater Accra Regional Office of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has cautioned parents, guardians, philanthropists and Members of Parliament (MPs) against buying unapproved and substandard mattresses for students returning to school.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Ghana Standards Authority, Mr Clement Kobati, said the warning was important as schools prepare to reopen and many parents and individuals purchase mattresses for students.
According to him, the GSA has carried out several enforcement exercises and shut down companies found manufacturing and producing substandard mattresses.
He said although the Authority continues to monitor the market, consumers also need to be careful when buying mattresses for their children.
Mr Kobati explained that students spend a significant amount of time sleeping in their dormitories and therefore need mattresses that are of good quality and approved by the Ghana Standards Authority.
He warned that buying cheap and unapproved mattresses could affect students’ comfort and may contribute to problems such as back pain and skin rashes, which could also affect their concentration in class.
“Don’t go in for cheap mattresses. Don’t go in for unapproved mattresses. Go to Ghana Standards Authority website, check for the approved mattresses, and buy a mattress that will last long,” he cautioned.
Mr Kobati also urged students to speak up and encourage their parents or guardians to buy quality mattresses for them, since they would be the ones using them throughout their stay in school.
He further appealed to MPs and other individuals who support students with mattresses as part of their community and educational support programmes to prioritise quality over price.
He said there was little benefit in providing students with cheap mattresses if the products could cause discomfort or health problems.
The Greater Accra Regional Director stressed that enforcement alone was not enough to deal with substandard products on the market, and urged consumers to equip themselves with the right information before making purchases.
He also noted that the government was working towards ensuring that schools, hospitals, clinics and other government institutions purchase only approved products.
Mr Kobati encouraged parents and other consumers to check the Ghana Standards Authority’s list of approved mattresses before making their purchases.
He said the Authority would continue its enforcement activities to prevent substandard mattresses from returning to the market.
