Extra Comfort Foam CEO Sounds Alarm Over Unfair Competition, Urges State Action to Save Local Industry

The Chief Executive Officer of Extra Comfort Foam Limited, Nana Kwabena Appiah, has appealed to the government to take decisive action to safeguard indigenous foam manufacturing companies from unfair competition that threatens their survival.

Nana Kwabena Appiah, who is also the Nkosuohene of Atwima Yabi, made the appeal during a working visit by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Kwanwoma, Hon. Grace Agyemang Asamoah, to the company’s premises. The visit formed part of the DCE’s ongoing engagements with businesses across the district aimed at strengthening collaboration and promoting local economic growth.

According to the Extra Comfort Foam CEO, some foreign-linked operators in the foam industry are allegedly using plastic waste to produce substandard mattresses, which are sold on the market at extremely low prices. He warned that these inferior products have flooded the market, accounting for an estimated 75 per cent of sales, leaving local manufacturers struggling to survive on the remaining 25 per cent.

He stressed that while competition is essential for business growth and innovation, it must be fair and guided by established standards. Nana Kwabena Appiah therefore called on the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to step up its regulatory enforcement to rid the industry of substandard and fraudulent products.

“The absence of strict regulation is gradually collapsing Ghanaian-owned companies,” he cautioned, adding that if the situation persists, many local industries could shut down, leading to increased unemployment, particularly among the youth. He warned that rising joblessness could also fuel social vices and criminal activities, ultimately undermining national development.

Beyond industry regulation, Nana Kwabena Appiah also used the occasion to appeal to the government to settle outstanding payments owed to road contractors. He noted that several road projects in the Atwima Kwanwoma District have stalled due to non-payment, resulting in poor road networks that are increasing the cost of doing business.

He explained that the bad roads are placing enormous strain on the limited number of vehicles available for industrial and commercial activities, thereby escalating operational costs for businesses within the district.

In her remarks, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Grace Agyemang Asamoah, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting local businesses and strengthening public–private partnerships. She assured management of Extra Comfort Foam Limited that the concerns raised would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for consideration.

The visit, she said, underscores the district’s broader strategy to engage local industries, identify their challenges, and work collaboratively to promote sustainable economic development in the Atwima Kwanwoma District.