Ghana upgrades metrology systems to power trade and industry

 Ghanais upgrad­ing its national measurement infra­structure to inter­national standards to boost industrial growth, ensure fair trade, and position itself as a metrology leader in Africa, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has announced.

She said accurate measurements are the “currency of trust,” essential for product safety, reliable services, and equitable trade.

With support from the German government and Germany’s national metrology institute, Physikalisch-Tech­nische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Ghana is undertaking a transformation led by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to enhance capabilities in temperature, mass, and electricity measurements.

These efforts, she noted, align with the government’s 24-hour economy initiative and export development agenda.

She made the remarks at the open­ing of the 18th Intra-Africa Metrol­ogy System (AFRIMETS) General Assembly in Accra, under the theme: “150 Years of the Metre Convention: Prospects for Metrology within the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

The four-day assembly, hosted by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), has drawn national metrology institutes and key stakeholders from across the continent to strengthen regional cooperation in measurement science.

She said the upgraded systems will help Ghanaian industries, especially in agro-processing, manufacturing, and logistics, compete globally by meeting international standards.

She also highlighted recent capaci­ty-building efforts, including training for GSA staff in Germany, South Africa, Slovenia, and Switzerland, with more exchanges planned to build local expertise.

A major achievement, she added, is the establishment of Ghana’s first public utility metrology laboratory, which enables consumers to verify electricity meter accuracy—key for transparency and consumer protec­tion.

In his welcome address, GSA’s Deputy Director General for Conformity Assessment, Clifford Frimpong, noted that the assembly coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention, a reminder of the enduring value of interna­tional cooperation in measurement science.

He said the assembly comes as Africa advances the AfCFTA, where accurate, harmonised measurements are vital for quality infrastructure, manufacturing safety, and fair trade.

President of AFRIMETS, Dr Hen­ry Rotich, commended Ghana for its leadership in metrology and stressed the importance of accurate, traceable measurements in managing resources and advancing Africa’s economic integration.

He urged participants to use the assembly as an opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and shape a unified African metrology agenda that supports AfCFTA implemen­tation and the continent’s long-term development.