Check proliferation of substandard mattresses on market

The alarming reports from local mattress manufacturers over the proliferation of substandard mattresses in Ghana are not just business grievances, they are grave warnings of endangered health.

At a press briefing in Kumasi, mattress manufacturers sounded an alarm about the growing presence of low-quality mattresses, particularly those made from polystyrene.

According to the manufacturers, these mattresses, often imported by unregistered foreign entities, especially Chinese firms, are being sold at prices so low that they easily lure unsuspecting customers. But beneath their attractive tags lies silent danger resulting from prolonged use.

This can lead to chronic back pain, spinal deformities, poor sleep quality, and musculoskeletal disorders. Such substandard mattresses fail to provide proper support, lack durability, and are wholly inappropriate for bedding.

The Spectator therefore calls on government, law enforcement, customs, and regulatory bodies to collaborate closely with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to ensure that all mattress manufacturers, both foreign and local, are registered with the authority.

The paper is also urging stakeholders to ensure raw materials used are certified and match standards, conduct regular spot-inspections in factories, warehouses, and retailers, and confiscate, seal, or destroy substandard products, and impose meaningful sanctions on non-compliant manufacturers and sellers.

Also, the paper believes that public education by the GSA on its certification mark, and why suspiciously cheap, unlabelled mattresses are dangerous, will help curb the menace.

Sleep is not luxury, it is necessity, and the mattress is part of a safe, healthy rest, not a source of risk. The time has come for bold action, consistent regulation, and uncompromising vigilance.

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