Extra Comfort Foam CEO Appeals to Government to Rescue Local Foam Industry from Collapse
The Chief Executive Officer of Extra Comfort Foam Limited, Nana Kwabena Appiah, has appealed to the Government of Ghana to urgently intervene to protect the local foam manufacturing industry from what he described as imminent collapse caused by unfair competition and weak regulatory enforcement.
Nana Kwabena Appiah, who is also the Nkosuohemaa of Atwima Yabi, made the call during a working visit by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Kwanwoma, Hon. Grace Agyemang Asamoah, to the company. The visit formed part of the DCE’s engagement with businesses across the district to strengthen collaboration and promote local economic development.
Addressing the DCE and her delegation, the Extra Comfort Foam CEO expressed deep concern about practices within the foam industry which, he said, are undermining indigenous manufacturers. He alleged that some foreign operators are producing substandard mattresses using plastic waste and selling them at extremely low prices, thereby distorting the market.
According to him, these inferior products have captured nearly 75 per cent of the local foam market, leaving Ghanaian-owned companies struggling to survive on the remaining share. He noted that the situation has become increasingly difficult for local manufacturers, many of whom are operating under rising production costs and unfavourable market conditions.
Nana Kwabena Appiah stressed that while competition is essential for business growth and innovation, it must be fair and guided by established standards. He therefore called on the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to intensify its regulatory oversight and strictly enforce quality standards to sanitise the industry and protect consumers from substandard products.
He warned that the continued influx of inferior mattresses could lead to the collapse of local foam manufacturing companies, with serious implications for national development. He added that the shutdown of indigenous industries would exacerbate youth unemployment and could potentially contribute to the rise in social vices and criminal activities.
The Extra Comfort Foam CEO also drew attention to infrastructural challenges affecting businesses, particularly poor road networks within parts of the Atwima Kwanwoma District. He appealed to government to ensure the payment of road contractors to enable them to return to site and complete stalled projects, noting that bad roads increase operational costs and place undue pressure on vehicles used for industrial and commercial activities.
In her response, Hon. Grace Agyemang Asamoah acknowledged the concerns raised and assured management of Extra Comfort Foam of government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. She emphasized that the growth of local industries remains central to the district’s development agenda and pledged continued engagement with the private sector to address challenges confronting businesses.
The visit underscored the importance of public–private collaboration in promoting sustainable economic development and safeguarding the survival of indigenous industries within the Atwima Kwanwoma District.
