The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) says it will carry out more unannounced inspections in paint shops across the country to ensure that only safe and quality paint products are sold to the public.

This decision follows an undercover investigation by JoyNews, which revealed that some local paint shops were selling paints containing dangerously high levels of lead. The report also exposed shops where expired paints were being mixed with locally produced ones—an act that poses serious health risks to consumers.

In response, the GSA launched surprise operations in Accra, targeting 15 paint shops. During the exercise, over 20 paint samples were taken for testing. Officials also discovered that some vendors were mixing different types of paints and selling them without proper labels, which violates Ghana’s consumer safety regulations.

Despite some resistance from shop owners, GSA officials, backed by law enforcement officers, managed to carry out the inspections.

Speaking to the media, George Kojo Anti, Head of Special Projects at the GSA, expressed concern over the findings, describing them as “alarming.” He warned that vendors who fail to comply with safety standards will face strict penalties.

The GSA is urging all paint manufacturers and vendors to follow safety guidelines and ensure their products are properly tested and labeled before putting them on the market.

The authority reaffirmed its commitment to consumer safety, especially as lead exposure has been linked to severe health problems, including developmental issues in children and organ damage in adults.