The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has launched a public education campaign aimed at encouraging transport operators to use certified and verified weighing scales when determining passengers’ luggage charges. The Authority says the exercise is intended to promote fairness, consumer protection and voluntary compliance before strict enforcement begins.
Leading an inspection and sensitisation exercise at major transport terminals in Accra, the Greater Accra Regional Manager of the GSA, Clement Kobati, said the Authority wants to be recognised as an institution that educates businesses rather than one that focuses solely on punishment.
“Our desire is for the public to see the Ghana Standards Authority as teachers rather than policemen. We are here to educate operators on the importance of using verified weighing scales and to ensure fairness for both transport operators and passengers,” Mr. Kobati stated.
The exercise covered several transport terminals, including the Cross Country/Nigerian Station at Ring Road, OA Travel and Tours, VIP Jeoun Transport and Intercity STC Coaches Limited, where officials inspected and tested weighing equipment used in charging passengers for luggage.
According to Mr. Kobati, although many transport operators own weighing scales, several are either not using them to determine luggage charges or are operating scales that have not been verified by the Authority. He, however, commended Intercity STC Coaches Limited after its weighing scales were tested with calibrated standards and confirmed to be accurate.
Mr. Kobati explained that the exercise is being carried out under the Ghana Standards Authority Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which mandates the GSA, as Ghana’s National Metrology Institute, to inspect and verify all weighing and measuring instruments used for trade every six months.
He noted that the current phase of the campaign is largely educational, giving transport operators sufficient time to understand the legal requirements and voluntarily comply before nationwide enforcement begins.
While reminding operators that failure to comply with the law could attract fines of not less than GH¢12,000, Mr. Kobati stressed that the Authority’s immediate priority is awareness creation and stakeholder engagement rather than prosecution.
“Our objective is not to punish businesses. It is to ensure fairness in trade, protect consumers and transport operators alike, and promote confidence in commercial transactions through accurate measurements,” he said.
The Greater Accra Regional Manager disclosed that the GSA will continue engaging transport operators and other stakeholders to address concerns and improve compliance before extending the exercise to other regions of the country.
He expressed confidence that the campaign would strengthen consumer protection, improve transparency in luggage charges and reinforce a culture of quality standards within Ghana’s transport sector.
The public education exercise forms part of the Ghana Standards Authority’s renewed commitment to promoting standards, fairness and accountability across all sectors of the economy through education, collaboration and effective regulation.
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