The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has raised alarm over a rise in unregistered imported goods being sold through Ghana’s online marketplaces, saying the trend endangers consumer safety and strains public-health safeguards.
In a June 2, 2026 statement, Nana Prempeh Okogyeabour Aduhene, the CPA’s Executive Director for Mediation and Arbitration, said agency probes found imported items reaching customers without required approval from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) or certification from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
Under Ghanaian law, Aduhene reminded, imported products offered for commercial sale must be certified or registered before they enter the market.
The CPA singled out health-related products and electronics among the offenders.
The agency cited consumer complaints that included a topical cream marketed for belly-fat reduction that reportedly caused severe skin burns, and an electronic device that allegedly exploded while charging.
Such reports, the CPA said, highlight the danger of unvetted products and the potential for serious harm when safety checks are bypassed.
Calling on online marketplaces and delivery services to tighten their vetting procedures, the CPA urged platform operators to verify that third-party sellers list only goods that meet FDA and GSA requirements.
The agency said it stands ready to work with the FDA, GSA and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to locate and remove non-compliant products from both digital and physical retail channels.
The CPA framed stronger enforcement as essential both to protect consumers and to sustain trust in Ghana’s expanding e-commerce sector.
It also warned that continued circulation of uncertified imports could lead to stricter regulatory actions if platforms fail to improve compliance.
