Ghana to reinforce ban on importation of used fridges January 2013
Mr. Victor Owusu, Public Affairs Officer at Ghana’s Energy Commission on Tuesday stated that the ban on importation of used refrigerators into the country would be re-enforced with effect from January 1, 2013 to save the country from high energy consumption.
He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Sunyani after a one-day workshop for 50 refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics, that the ban on old refrigerators would save the nation about 33 million dollars annually.
The participants, drawn from Berekum, Dormaa Ahenkro, Techiman and Sunyani in Brong Ahafo, were taken through methods in repairing a new type of refrigerator that would be introduced in the country soon.
He said the replacement of onion bulbs with energy-saving bulbs saved the nation 100 million dollars annually, and expressed the hope that importers and individuals would cooperate for the success of the exercise.
He cautioned that importers who might import refrigerators that did not meet the required standard would not be allowed to take delivery of them from the port.
Mr Owusu explained that with time the old ones already in the system would phase out since the particular gas material used for their repair would be banned from entering the country.
Mr. Eric Antwi Adjei, coordinator of the refrigeration project, said the ban on old refrigerators would give the opportunity for the manufacture of the appliance in the country.
He added that negotiations had already been made with some foreign manufacturers who were prepared to come to Ghana for the project.
The co-ordinator advised consumers to always look out for labels on refrigerators which bore the manufacturer’s name, the type and of which climate class so that those not environmentally friendly and consume much energy could be rejected.
He stated that even though there might be some fake labels on some refrigerators the Energy Commission had a testing facility that could be used to detect such labels.
Mr. Johnson Bennet Hasford of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urged participants to come together so they could invite resource persons for refresher courses to be able to serve consumers as expected.
He urged the participants to adapt to new methods of repairing refrigerators through the use of modern equipment and to desist from using LPG gas in their work.
Mr Hasford explained the use of LPG gas in the repair of refrigerators could cause fire outbreak and that perpetrators could be arrested and prosecuted in court.
Source: GNA