Ghana to cease to be dumping ground for old fridges

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02-10-08

GHANA will no longer be a dumping ground for second-hand refrigerators if the legislation to regulate their importation comes into force in the second quarter of next year.
The Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Dr Ofosu Ahenkorah, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that “all the second-hand fridges that are imported into the country are not good. They were not made for our climate as they use a lot of energy,” he said.
He said for instance, used fridge consumed 1,200 units of electricity a year, adding that the figure was far in excess of the European Union (EU) consumption of 500 units.
Dr Ahenkorah said apart from the importation, the legislation would also cover local manufacturing and sale of refrigerators throughout the country.
He noted that the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) had completed the standards that would regulate the importation of used fridges, and that what was left was the legislation.
Dr Ahenkorah indicated that the Energy Commission was going to meet the importers of used fridges to discuss issues on the importation and sale of fridges.
He said there are some brand new fridges that were not made for the country, and that when the legislation was introduced they would also be affected.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said from January 1, 2010, the importation of electrical equipment with components that contained ozone-depleting substances would be banned.
The Deputy Director of the National Ozone Unit of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Emmanuel Osae Quansah, said this at this year’s United Nations International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.