The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has warned consumers against mattresses made with unapproved materials, saying they could pose serious health and safety risks.
According to the authority, some manufacturers were replacing polyurethane foam with materials intended for packaging, potentially exposing users to chemical emissions that could cause respiratory irritation, back and neck pain, poor spinal alignment and other health problems.
The Chairman of the GSA Technical Committee on Foams and Mattresses, Dr Benjamin Tawia, disclosed this at a press conference in Accra yesterday.
He said investigations by the GSA had uncovered the use of polystyrene and other unapproved polyethylene-based materials in the manufacture of some mattresses.
“Some of these materials are designed for packaging, including protecting appliances, and are not intended for direct human contact or use in bedding,” he said.
Dr Tawia said such materials could expose users to volatile organic compounds and other chemical emissions, while failing to provide the support required for proper spinal alignment.
He further warned that mattresses made with unapproved materials might not meet the required flammability and safety standards, thereby increasing the risk of fire.
As part of efforts to enforce the standards, Dr Tawia said the GSA, together with the Ghana Police Service SWAT team, had sealed a number of mattress manufacturing companies in the Greater Accra Region and parts of Ashaiman during a two-day operation on May 18 and 19, 2026.
The affected companies were Yin Yuan Jia Limited, Mooda/Monda Ghana Mattresses, Hue Sheng Company, Asano Service, ZXZ Company Limited, Rockfoam Mattresses and 5A Home Company.
He said the action formed part of measures to ensure that mattresses manufactured and sold to the public met the required standards.
Dr Tawia urged consumers to be particularly cautious about mattresses that were unusually cheap or had a strong chemical smell, saying those could be warning signs of substandard products.
He advised consumers to ensure that mattresses they purchased were made from 100 per cent polyurethane foam and carried the GSA certification mark, GS 1211:2019.
He also cautioned consumers against unusually low-priced mattresses advertised as “memory foam”, describing such prices as a possible red flag.
“Consumers should buy mattresses from registered or licensed retailers and report suspected fake or unapproved products to the GSA on 0302-500065 or 0302-500066,” he said.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
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