The Tema Regional Police Command has detained six individuals in Afienya and Dawhenya over the alleged production of substandard mattresses that reportedly failed to meet Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) requirements.
The arrests came after a coordinated enforcement exercise involving the Greater Accra Regional office of the GSA and Tema Police last Thursday, triggered by viral social media videos posted by frustrated consumers.
In the video, customers who suspected they had been deceived cut open the mattresses and discovered they were filled with cardboard and other inferior materials instead of proper cushioning.
All six suspects, who are Chinese nationals, are expected to be arraigned in court next week, Graphic Online reported.
Greater Accra Regional Manager of the GSA, Clement Kwolaga Kubati, told the Daily Graphic that the mattresses were not imported from China as widely believed, but were actually being produced locally in Afienya and Dawhenya by the suspects.
Following the operation, the factories have been shut down as investigations continue.
Mr Kubati noted that the same facilities had been sealed by the GSA in October 2025 over similar violations, but the operators allegedly broke the seals and resumed production without authorisation.
“We consider this a serious offence and our lawyers would take the appropriate action as the docket is being prepared for the court,” Mr Kubati told the Daily Graphic.
“Per the procedure, if you’re manufacturing or importing anything that is commercialised, it has to conform to GSA-approved standards.
“Normally, samples are brought for testing to assess the critical parameters before being given the licence for mass production.
Unfortunately, in this instance, the Chinese did not comply,” he said.
Even before the viral clips surfaced, inspections had already flagged the products in retail markets as fake or substandard.
Authorities have since begun recalling the mattresses currently on sale.
“Our lawyers are writing to such retail companies to recall all such products, as we urge consumers to always look out for the GSA certification mark before buying any product.
“It is important to note that the products are manufactured by some Chinese but not China Mall as an entity.
China Mall is only a distribution centre, in fact, one of many distribution centres.
“I’m sure if you go to Makola and other places, one might see some of them,” he said.
Mr Kubati urged both regulators and the public to remain alert as the GSA adopts what he described as a “nationalistic approach” to clamp down on the issue.
He added that all regional GSA offices will now form dedicated task forces to intensify enforcement against similar violations nationwide.
