Buying a Treadmill in Ghana: 5 Red Flags to Avoid

The market for fitness equipment in Ghana is flooded. You can find treadmills in glass showrooms in East Legon, container shops in Lapaz, and on Jiji or Facebook Marketplace.

However, quantity does not mean quality. Many buyers lose thousands of Cedis on machines that are either unsafe, broken, or completely fake.

If you are looking to invest in a home gym in 2025, watch out for these five dangerous signals.

Red Flag #1: The “UK Used” or “Slightly Used” Label

In Ghana, “UK Used” is often a marketing term for “Electronic E-Waste.”

While some appliances (like blenders) might survive second-hand use, treadmills are different. They have consumable parts—motors, belts, and deck wax—that degrade with mileage. Buying a used treadmill is like buying a used car with 300,000km on the engine.

The Risk:
You often buy a machine with a motor that has 10% life remaining. When it fails after three weeks, the seller will not replace it. You are left with a heavy, useless coat rack.

Red Flag #2: No Local Spare Parts

Before you pay, ask the seller one question: “If the control board burns out in six months, do you have a replacement in stock right now?”

The Reality:
90% of sellers in Accra are importers, not technicians. They bring in a container of random mixed brands. Once sold, they have no supply chain for parts. If your specific model breaks, it cannot be fixed because the parts are not available in West Africa.

The Fix:
Only buy from a supplier that stocks spare control boards, motors, and belts for the specific model they sell.

Red Flag #3: The 40cm Running Belt

Manufacturers save money by making the machine smaller. A treadmill with a running belt width of 40cm or less is a safety hazard for running.

Narrow belts leave no room for error. As you get tired, your stride naturally drifts left or right. On a narrow belt, this leads to stepping on the side rail, tripping, and injury.

The Standard:
For safe running, insist on a belt width of at least 48cm to 52cm. If the seller hides the dimensions, walk away.

Red Flag #4: Weight Capacity Matches Your Weight

We mentioned this in our durability guide, but it bears repeating. If a seller tells you a 100kg capacity machine is fine for a 100kg user, they are lying to close the sale.

Running generates impact force. A machine needs a 20-30kg buffer to handle the stress of your foot strike. Using a machine at its maximum limit causes the motor to overheat and the frame to crack.

Red Flag #5: “Pay Before Delivery” (Online Scams)

Online fraud is rampant in Ghana. Scammers create fake listings on social media with attractive prices (e.g., a massive treadmill for GHS 2,500). They will demand a “commitment fee” or “delivery fee” via Mobile Money before dispatching the item.

Once you send the money, they block your number.

The Rule:
Never pay for a treadmill until it is physically delivered to your house or you have inspected it at a showroom. Legitimate businesses offer Payment on Delivery or secure card transactions.

The Finderra Guarantee

We built Finderra to solve these exact problems for the Ghanaian market.

1. Brand New: We do not sell used equipment. Every unit comes fresh from the factory.
2. Parts in Stock: We maintain a warehouse of spare parts in Accra.
3. Safety First: Our M7 model features a wide 52cm belt and a 150kg capacity.
4. Trust: We offer Payment on Delivery in Accra. You see it, you check it, then you pay.

Don’t gamble with your health or your money