Ghana Standards Authority Certification for Food Products (2026)

Ghana has two main bodies food manufacturers meet early: the Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). Ghana Standards Authority certification for food products is third-party certification that lets a conforming product carry the GSA Standard Mark, and many supermarkets and institutional buyers value it. This guide explains how the scheme works using GSA's own documents, read in October 2026, for processors in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi and elsewhere. Details can change, so confirm every step and fee with GSA before applying.

What Ghana Standards Authority certification is

GSA describes product certification as impartial third-party attestation that a product meets specified requirements, usually set out in standards. Under the Standards Authority Act, 1973, GSA grants permission for conforming products to bear the Standard Mark, and GSA states that it is accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 for product certification. According to the GSA Product Certification Scheme brochure (March 2021), the scheme issues a licence to use the mark on certified products. Read the overview on the GSA certification page.

GSA certification is not the same as FDA registration. The FDA licenses facilities and registers food products; GSA certifies that a product conforms to a standard. Many manufacturers pursue both; see our guide to Ghana FDA registration for food manufacturers and our overview of product standards and certification.

Ghana Standards Authority certification: application steps

The brochure says certification services are provided to all applicants without discrimination, and that businesses that consider themselves small-scale must register with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and provide an introductory letter. It sets out these steps:

1. Submit the application form, supporting documents and a signed Certification Agreement, and pay the approved fee.
2. GSA reviews the application for completeness, agreed standards, scope, resources and competence.
3. A preliminary inspection may be carried out to verify readiness.
4. A factory audit is conducted and a sample is drawn.
5. Laboratory test reports are reviewed.
6. A certification decision is made and a certificate is awarded.
7. Surveillance and renewal follow.

On its product certification page (last modified 15 April 2026), GSA lists downloadable documents, including the brochure, a How To Get Certified guide, an application form for a licence to use the Standard Mark (uploaded April 2026) and a renewal form. It also offers an online search of certified clients. Download the current forms from the GSA product certification page, not from third-party sites.

Documents and the quality plan you need

The brochure's required documents include a completed application form, two signed copies of the Certification Agreement, a copy of the business registration documents, the NBSSI letter if you are small-scale, a product quality manual or plan, a product label with the required information, evidence supporting any label claims, and directions to the factory. The quality plan must cover a title page, quality policy, factory layout, organogram, material and equipment specifications, a process flow diagram, standard operating procedures, quality control forms and, for food and beverage products, a HACCP system. If you are new to writing these documents, start with the flow diagram and your cleaning and quality control procedures, because inspectors will walk the line and compare it with your paperwork.

Factory audit, sampling and testing

According to the brochure, a team of technical inspectors evaluates the product, the production process and the management system. It checks product testing, production controls, traceability and the handling of nonconforming product. You receive an evaluation report listing nonconformities and an action plan with deadlines. A representative sample is drawn during the evaluation and sent for independent testing at an approved laboratory, and a reviewer who was not involved in the evaluation checks the evidence before a separate decision-maker decides on certification. GSA's own Food and Agriculture page describes five testing laboratories, including a food laboratory, a mycotoxins and histamine laboratory, a metallic contaminants laboratory and a pesticide residues laboratory, with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for certain tests; see the GSA Food and Agriculture page for the list.

Licence validity, surveillance and fees

The brochure says the licence is valid for a year and must be renewed annually, with renewal applications due three months before expiry, and that GSA conducts surveillance at least once in six months, which can include product inspection, product testing and audits of production records. On fees, the brochure lists a processing fee, a testing fee and a licence fee that depend on company size and product, with a lower structure for small companies. Its figures date from June 2019, so we have not repeated them: ask GSA for the current schedule. The brochure does not state a firm processing time that we can rely on.

HACCP certification for food businesses

Separately, GSA runs a HACCP certification scheme (document MSCS-G9.2-06, Issue 02, dated 30 May 2019). It applies to food businesses involved in preparation, processing, packaging, storage, transport and distribution. Prerequisites include a licensed premises, registration with the Registrar General's Department, documented prerequisite programmes, a signed HACCP manual, and a HACCP system that has been running for at least six months before application. The audit proceeds through an adequacy review and two on-site stages, and certification is valid for three years with surveillance at least every 12 months. If you aim to supply large buyers or export, HACCP is worth planning. See the GSA HACCP guideline for the full scheme.

Frequently asked questions

Is GSA certification compulsory for food in Ghana? GSA describes product certification as attestation of conformity and the Standard Mark as granted on application. Ask GSA and the FDA which approvals your product needs and which buyers require the mark.

Do small processors qualify? Yes. GSA's brochure provides for small-scale businesses, with an NBSSI introductory letter and a lower fee structure. Ask GSA for the current schedule.

Do I still need the FDA if I have the Standard Mark? The two bodies have different roles. Confirm FDA requirements for your product separately.

Can a certificate help with buyers? It can add confidence, but we cannot promise orders. List your certificates and registration numbers on your product pages and in quotations.

Which payment methods does Comilmart support for suppliers? Ask Comilmart through live chat or /contact-us.

Getting started

If your Ghanaian food business is building towards Ghana Standards Authority certification, or already has it, apply as a supplier at /apply-manufacturer. It is free to apply. The form asks for your company registration number, tax number, business licence, registration certificate and at least two sample product images, and admin review is stated as taking about 24 to 48 hours. Choose the category that fits your products, and confirm current GSA requirements and fees with GSA directly before you apply.