Chief Executive Officer-QA Consult Johnson Opoku-Boateng has urged a stronger and more consistent national effort to nurture a quality culture that supports the country’s industrial transformation.
While delivering his welcome address at the Quality Summit and QA Consult’s 10th anniversary celebration launch in Accra, he said government’s policies, regulations and enforcement approach are crucial to shaping an environment where quality and trust become central to national progress.
He said though the country has made progress in industrial development, persistent weaknesses in enforcement and collaboration between regulators, academia and industry continue to slow progress and weaken competitiveness.
He stated that quality must move beyond a compliance checklist to become a mindset that drives both public institutions and private enterprises. He added that a lack of consistent enforcement, burdensome regulations and poor coordination often dissuade small and medium enterprises from seeking certification and adopting higher standards
He stressed that nurturing a strong national quality culture should be a shared responsibility. “The state must provide the enabling environment – predictable policies, infrastructure and incentives that support compliance while industry must embed quality into every aspect of their operations.”
The event, held on the theme ‘Advancing Industrial Excellence through Quality and Trust’, brought together regulators, business leaders, academia and development partners. It also marked the annual Quality Summit launch, designed to promote dialogue, share best practices and inspire innovation within the quality and standards ecosystem.
“The summit will serve as a platform for engagement among regulators, private companies and academia,” the CEO said, stating that its goal is to position quality and standards as the foundation for industrial growth and global competitiveness. In addition, it will help drive the national conversation on sustainability and innovation as vital tools for transformation.
He reaveled that his company started in 2010 with very limited resources but huge determination. From those humble beginnings, he said, it has grown into a respected name in quality consultancy – working with companies such as Unilever, Ghacem and Chanrai.
He said its work spans ISO management systems, food safety, occupational health and safety and regulatory compliance across the manufacturing, hospitality and service sectors. “Our mission has always been simple yet profound – to promote the quality and safety of products and services by providing cost-effective, world-class training and consultancy,” he added.
He expressed appreciation to the event sponsors – CEVAG, Yedent Agro Group of Companies, Ribeth Hygenyk, GC Proodos, Joy Springs, Bel Aqua and many others – for their partnership and commitment to promoting quality; further urging stakeholders to consider the Summit as not just another event but a sustained movement that advances industrial excellence through quality, sustainability and trust.
Meanwhile, the event’s special guest – George Adjei, Director-General, Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), in a speech read on his behalf by the authority’s Deputy Director General for Services, Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite – acknowledged that small and medium enterprises need more practical guidance to meet quality standards and announced plans for GSA to partner with QA Consult to bridge this gap.
He highlighted the authority’s ongoing efforts to modernise testing laboratories and digitise certification services. These steps, he noted, are crucial for harmonising national standards with international requirements; thus ensuring the country’s products remain competitive, especially, within the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Also, Ms. Paulina Addy – Director-Women in Agricultural Development Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture – in her remarks detailed several ministry interventions, including the rollout of food safety guidelines for local assemblies and initiatives to promote good agricultural practices. She urged all sector players to view quality assurance not as a burden but a vital investment with positive returns.
The Quality Summit seeks to achieve clear outcomes, including greater national recognition of quality as central to growth; actionable policy proposals to strengthen quality infrastructure; and stronger collaboration between regulators, academia and industry players.
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