THE Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has begun a crackdown on substandard paints on the market, following the detection of harmful lead levels in some products in the Greater Accra Region.

The exercise formed part of efforts to promote fair trade and protect public health, while ensuring that goods sold in the country met approved standards.

As part of the exercise, some paint shops within Tudu and its environs in the Klottey Korle Constituency were temporarily closed for further investigation.

Addressing journalists after the exercise on Thursday, the Greater Accra Regional Manager of the GSA, Clement Kubati, explained that samples of paint collected during an operation earlier in the day had tested positive for lead levels above the permitted threshold.

He said under the Ghana Standards Authority Act 2022 (Act 1078), particularly, provisions on conformity assessment, the authority was mandated to shut down the sale or manufacture of products that failed to meet required standards.

He noted that the exercise marked only the first phase of a broader enforcement campaign, which would be extended to other products, including electrical goods and emerging technologies.

He cautioned that exposure to lead-based paints posed serious health risks, especially to children and pregnant women, and could lead to conditions such as cancer and kidney disease.

He, therefore, urged the public to support the authority by providing information on suspected substandard products, stressing that such goods could easily find their way into homes and communities.

Mr Kubati indicated that offending businesses had previously been issued notices and given ample time to comply with regulations but failed to do so, necessitating enforcement action.

Furthermore, he explained that penalties for non-compliance ranged between 2,000 and 4,000 penalty units, depending on the outcome of engagements with the authority and guidance from the Attorney General.

He emphasised that products found to contain harmful substances would be withdrawn from the market and banned, adding that the GSA remained committed to sanitising the market and safeguarding consumers.