The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and Nestlé Ghana Ltd., have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to forge a strong cooperation in the sharing of scientific and technical information.

The Public-Private-Partnership agreement seeks to enhance laboratory analytical methods alignment and capacity building in laboratory testing of food products to enhance product safety and quality standards. The partnership will also contribute towards the enhancement of technical competencies of personnel and promote best practices.

Under the terms of the MoU, the GSA will collaborate with Nestlé in standardization and alignment of applicable test methods; carrying out inter-laboratory comparisons in agreed scopes; and conduct ISO/IEC 17025, safety and compliance internal audits per agreed schedule between the two parties.

In addition, there will be knowledge exchange on Laboratory Information Management Systems, the use of GSA laboratories for conformance to standards and compliance to set constituent limits per Ghana standards.

On its part, Nestlé will offer GSA the opportunity to tour Nestlé laboratories, share relevant information through capacity building programmes to assist the GSA and carry out inter-laboratory comparisons in agreed scopes using ISO accredited standards to improve standards in Ghana.

According to Philomena Tan, Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana, this partnership with the GSA will mutually benefit both organisations by harnessing expertise to build individual capabilities to deliver safer and healthier foods to Ghanaians. She added that, “the quality and safety of our food and beverages are non-negotiable priorities for Nestlé. This partnership is a concrete articulation of Nestlé’s commitment to Creating Shared Value for the society and our company and will further enable us to fulfil our purpose of Enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future” in Ghana.

The GSA, established by the Standards Decree, 1973 (NRCD 173) as the statutory body responsible for developing, publishing and promoting standards will continue to exercise its regulatory functions as required by law, noted Prof Alex Dodoo, Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority.