By Fatima Alimohamed
Every Ghanaian knows Shito. It sits on the table, it finishes the meal, and for many of us, no food is quite complete without it. But here is a question most of us have never asked: do you know what is actually in the bottle you just bought?
Recently, I carried out an informal review of several Shito brands available on the Ghanaian market. What I found was both encouraging and deeply concerning.
Of the brands I examined, only two were fully compliant with Ghana Standard GS 240:2017 the approved standard governing the composition and labelling of this product. The others? They contained sugar or glucose, thickeners, artificial food colours, and other additives that do not conform to the standard.
Two brands stood out for doing the right thing and to me were fully aligned with GS 240:2017 with no unapproved additives. This is what integrity in manufacturing looks like.
COMPLIANT
Didi Shito Fully aligned with GS 240:2017
Goody’s Shito Fully aligned with GS 240:2017
NON-COMPLIANT
Most Other brands Contained unapproved additives — sugar/glucose, thickeners, food colours
This is not a minor technicality. When a manufacturer includes unapproved ingredients they are making a choice to prioritise cost, shelf appeal, or margin over consumer safety and honesty. They are also breaking the law.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) have done the work of setting these standards. GS 240:2017 exists precisely to protect consumers and create a level playing field for manufacturers. The challenge is not the absence of standards, it is the absence of consistent enforcement and, equally, the absence of consumer awareness.
This is where I believe the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), through the Spices and Condiments Segment, has a critical role to play. We must actively support our regulators and amplify the call for:
Regular and transparent market surveillance — Random sampling and testing of products on shelves, with published results, so that both manufacturers and consumers know enforcement is real.
Stricter labelling compliance checks — Every ingredient on a label must be approved, accurately listed, and verifiable. Consumers deserve to know exactly what they are buying.
Consumer education campaigns — We cannot protect people who do not know they need protecting. Many Ghanaian consumers do not read labels not because they don’t care, but because they have never been taught why it matters. That must change.
Accountability for non-conforming manufacturers — Brands that bypass approved standards must face consequences. Praising those who comply and calling out those who do not is not an act of hostility, it is an act of honesty that raises the bar for everyone.
African consumers deserve the same protections as consumers anywhere in the world. Taking advantage of low awareness is not a business strategy, it is an ethical failure.
To compliant manufacturers of Didi and Goody’s: your commitment to standards is seen and appreciated. You are proof that it is possible to produce a quality, authentic Ghanaian product without cutting corners.
To consumers: start reading the label. It takes thirty seconds and it is one of the most powerful things you can do for your own health and your household’s wellbeing.
To regulators and industry associations: the standards are there. Let us enforce them consistently, visibly, and without exception.
Ghana’s food industry has enormous potential. But that potential can only be realised on a foundation of trust and trust begins with honesty about what is in pack.
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