Seized second-hand fridges released to owners despite ban

The authorities at the Takoradi Port have finally released seized second-hand refrigerators,deep-freezers and air-conditioners to their owners.

The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) seized the electrical gadgets following the enforcement of the legislative Instrument LI 1932 of 2008 at the beginning of this year.

Mr. Matson Ankobea, Operations Director at the Takoradi Port told journalists in Takoradi on Friday that those whose goods arrived before January 1,  2013, were allowed to clear their goods.

He said owners of the seized refrigerators,deep-freezers and air-conditioners were given the green light to clear them on Monday, January 7 adding that any banned electrical gadgets that arrived after January 1, 2013, would be confiscated in accordance with the law.

The second-hand electrical gadgets were banned as a result of the passage of LI 1932 in 2008 but a grace period of four years was given before its implementation this year.

The Energy Commission says second-hand electrical gadgets consumed more electrical power and that had a toll on the energy situation in the country, hence the ban.

The Commission has therefore taken steps to retrieve second-hand electrical gadgets from the market by giving chits to owners of such goods and replacing them with brand new ones.

The pilot project of the exercise has already started in the Greater Accra Region and would be replicated in other regions later.

Source: GNA