The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has lauded the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for its bold clampdown on fake and substandard baby diapers on the Ghanaian market, which have been linked to severe health issues among infants and toddlers.
In a strongly worded statement, the CPA lauded the FDA for confiscating and incinerating over one million pieces of defective diapers in recent weeks, a move described as a critical step toward protecting Ghana’s youngest citizens.
This follows an in-depth investigation conducted by the CPA across five key regions—Greater Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Sefwi Wiawso, and Sunyani after widespread complaints from mothers about alarming cases of diaper rashes, discomfort, and infections in their babies.
According to the CPA, laboratory tests on samples of the affected diapers revealed dangerously high microbial contamination. Further investigations traced the origin of the products to foreign manufacturers who had rejected the diapers due to poor quality. Instead of destroying them, these products were salvaged from trash heaps, repackaged in plain polyethylene bags, and smuggled into Ghana for unsuspecting consumers.
“The conditions under which these diapers are handled, stored, and distributed are not only unhygienic but outright dangerous,” said Nana Prempeh Aduhene, CPA’s Executive Director in charge of Mediation and Arbitration.
He added that some babies have suffered serious infections around the anus and genitals, with certain cases potentially becoming life-threatening if left untreated.
The CPA is now calling on the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (CEPS) to intensify monitoring at the country’s borders and block the importation of such hazardous products. The agency also urged parents—particularly mothers—to immediately stop patronizing cheap, unbranded diapers and instead opt for FDA-approved products.
“Are the over 5 million babies and toddlers in Ghana not deserving of clean, safe, and hygienic diapers? Must our children suffer because some unethical importers prioritize profit over health?” Aduhene questioned.
The CPA also pledged its support for a nationwide campaign in collaboration with the FDA to eliminate fake diapers from the market and champion broader consumer protection efforts.
