The Consumer Arbitration and Mediation Centre (CAMC) has sounded an alarm over the persistent sale of banned and substandard baby diapers on the Ghanaian market, warning of their potential to hurt or pose huge risks to the health of infants nationwide.

CAMC’s first alarm came around June 2024, following numerous complaints from parents about the usage of the diapers on their infants.

Following the organisation’s alarm, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) seized and destroyed over one million pieces of contaminated diapers across various parts of the country on May 27.

During a media appearance on Wednesday, May 28, the Executive Director of CAMC, Mr Nana Prempeh Okogyeabour Aduhene, disclosed that the diapers in question, mostly imported from China, Indonesia, and Turkey, have been flagged as unhealthy and subpar in these countries.However, some crooked importers repackaged them, even picking some from dumping sites, and have fed them to the Ghanaian market.“These diapers are rejected products meant for disposal. But because of greed, some importers collect them from refuse dumps, wrap them in plain polythene bags, and sell them in our markets. When we tested samples from Accra, Kasoa, and other locations, we found high levels of microbial contamination,” Mr Aduhene said.

He clarified that their inspections and public warnings about the dangers of substandard diapers are not an attempt to take over the FDA's role, but rather a collaborative effort aimed at safeguarding public health

“Our work is not to replace what the FDA does. But when we found the evidence, we did not keep it to ourselves. The FDA acted on it and shut down the places where these products were being handled,” Mr Aduhene continued.

Similarly, the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) also sounded caution over the safety of the diapers, following similar tests conducted in Greater Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Sunyani, and Sefwi Wiawso.

The CPA confirmed that many of the substandard diapers had been smuggled into Ghana after being rejected abroad. Most lacked labels, batch numbers, or country-of-origin markings, making them nearly impossible to trace or recall.

He quizzed, “Are the over five million babies and toddlers in Ghana not deserving of clean and safe diapers? Must our children suffer because some importers put profit ahead of their health?”.

He also noted that although these diapers are unsafe, they are often sold at very low prices, sometimes two or three times cheaper than approved brands, making them attractive to unsuspecting parents. Hence, he warned parents to prioritize their children's health and desist from purchasing these diapers.

In a related matter, Mr Aduhene revealed that his outfit has received reports of an alleged sale of unlabelled paint products tagged as “American paint.”

Citing a case involving the death of an asthmatic child, he disclosed that the youngster died after sleeping in a freshly painted room that contained dangerously high levels of lead.