Ghanaian businesses are being urged to move beyond obtaining quality management certificates to using internationally recognised standards as tools for reducing operating costs, improving productivity and accessing higher-value domestic and export markets.
The shift signals a changing role for certification in Ghana’s business environment, where compliance with international standards is increasingly becoming a requirement for companies seeking corporate contracts, supermarket distribution, investor confidence and participation in global supply chains.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), through its Systems Certification Department, is therefore repositioning its certification services to focus on measurable improvements in business performance rather than the number of certificates issued.
The new approach will prioritise faster and more transparent certification processes, sector-specific audits and sustained support to help businesses maintain management systems and translate certification into commercial advantages.
Madam Joyce Okoree, Director of Certification at the GSA, announced the transformation agenda at the Authority’s Annual General Meeting in Accra on Thursday.
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The meeting, organised by the Systems Certification Department, was held on the theme, “Beyond Certification”.
She said although the Authority had certified and recertified organisations in food manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, healthcare and other service sectors under various international standards, the real value of certification depended on how effectively businesses applied those standards in their daily operations.
“A certification on the wall is not enough. Too many organisations get certified to win a tender and then the system sleeps until the next audit. That is not why we exist,” she said.
For businesses, the implications extend beyond regulatory compliance. Properly implemented management systems can help reduce production waste, prevent workplace accidents, improve product consistency and minimise costly product rejection.
These improvements are particularly important for local manufacturers seeking to compete with imported products and meet the quality requirements of international buyers.
Madam Okoree said certification should deliver measurable economic benefits, including lower operational costs, improved customer satisfaction and access to new markets.
She identified the need for auditors to move beyond fault-finding and work more closely with businesses by providing practical recommendations to address operational weaknesses.
She also noted that emerging requirements relating to artificial intelligence, sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations were increasingly influencing business operations and tender requirements.
GSA Targets Easier Access to Certification
To reduce the administrative burden associated with certification, the Systems Certification Department plans to introduce faster and more transparent processes through digitalisation.
The proposed measures include online applications, clearly defined fee structures, established processing timelines and electronic certificates with QR-code verification.
The Authority also intends to integrate certification with training and continuous technical support to improve compliance beyond the initial assessment.
This will include internal audit training, auditor training, post-certification support sessions and periodic checks to ensure organisations consistently implement their management systems.
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such interventions could help address some of the capacity constraints that prevent businesses from meeting formal quality requirements and competing for larger commercial opportunities.
Madam Okoree urged industry players to regard certification as an investment rather than an additional business expense, noting that properly certified organisations were better positioned to build customer confidence, secure contracts, gain supermarket shelf space and pursue export opportunities.
She also commended auditors and technical experts for maintaining the credibility of the certification process, assuring them of the department’s commitment to investing in their competence, integrity and welfare.
Dr Charles Kuranchie, Head of Systems Certification at the GSA, said certification should be treated as a strategic management tool for improving organisational performance, strengthening customer confidence and creating opportunities for business growth.
He observed that although many organisations were enthusiastic about obtaining certifications such as ISO 9001 for quality management systems, some failed to integrate the requirements into their everyday operations.
Businesses, he said, must ensure that their management systems function consistently rather than preparing documentation solely to satisfy audit requirements.
Mrs Eunice Koran-Dwumah of Quality Assurance at Cleaning Solutions Limited commended the GSA for its stakeholder sensitisation programmes on quality assurance, saying they had helped the company streamline its quality management systems to meet international standards.
The GSA reaffirmed its commitment to working with industry players and other stakeholders to make systems certification a practical instrument for business competitiveness and national economic development.
