Accra, Ghana — The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has issued a stark warning to parents and caregivers nationwide following the discovery of a disturbing trend: the widespread circulation of counterfeit, unhygienic, and potentially toxic diapers in Ghana’s markets.
This comes in the wake of a successful operation by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), which led to the seizure and incineration of over one million pieces of substandard diapers. The CPA has commended the FDA for this intervention but insists that far more must be done to eliminate the threat entirely.
The CPA’s alert follows mounting complaints from distressed parents—especially mothers—who have observed an alarming increase in cases of severe diaper rashes, discomfort, and bacterial infections among their infants and toddlers.
In response to the growing concern, the CPA launched a comprehensive investigation across five major regions—Greater Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Sefwi Wiawso, and Sunyani. The results were both shocking and deeply troubling. Laboratory analyses confirmed that many of the diaper samples failed critical microbial safety tests, making them unsafe for infant use.
Unsanitary Origins of the Fake Diapers
According to the CPA’s findings, the origin of these diapers is even more appalling. Many of the counterfeit products were originally manufactured abroad but failed to pass quality control standards. Rather than being safely destroyed, these rejected products were salvaged from waste disposal sites, repackaged—often in unbranded or plain polyethylene bags—and illegally shipped into Ghana’s markets.
“These diapers are being sold to unsuspecting parents after being recovered from trash heaps in foreign countries,” said Nana Prempeh Aduhene, Executive Director for Mediation and Arbitration at the CPA. “The unhygienic storage, poor packaging, and uncontrolled importation make them a serious health hazard.”
Severe Health Risks for Babies
The CPA revealed that affected children have suffered painful rashes, open sores, and bacterial infections in sensitive areas. In some cases, these infections can progress to more serious medical conditions if left untreated, posing life-threatening risks to babies.
“Are the over five million babies and toddlers in Ghana not deserving of clean, safe, and hygienic diapers?” Aduhene asked. “Must our children endure suffering and sickness because unethical traders prioritize profit over public safety?”
Call to Action
The CPA is calling on parents to be vigilant and immediately stop purchasing diapers that appear unregulated or come in unbranded packaging, especially those lacking FDA approval markings. The agency also urged Ghana’s Customs officials and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to tighten border checks to stop the importation of these harmful products.
“Infant health is a national priority,” the CPA emphasized in its public statement. “Our children are the most vulnerable members of society. We must protect them at all costs.”
To further address the crisis, the CPA has pledged to work closely with the FDA to roll out a nationwide public awareness campaign, improve regulatory oversight, and intensify market surveillance to ensure that fake and dangerous diapers are permanently removed from circulation.
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