The Energy Commission has met stakeholders to apprise them of the revised prohibition law, LI 1932, which among other things, make carriers of used cooling appliances culpable.
The Energy Efficiency (Prohibition of Manufacture, Sale or Importation of Incandescent Filament Lamp, Used Refrigerator, Used Refrigerator-Freezer, Used Freezer and Used Air-conditioner) Regulations, 2008 (LI 1932) has the objective of preventing Ghana from becoming a dumping ground of used, obsolete and energy inefficient appliances. Having enforced the law for seven years, it has become necessary to review it in consonance with international standards of practice.
The Commission has held stakeholder consultations with importers, retailers, shipping line operators and Customs to update them of the revised standards. The regulations, when passed, will make the following activities criminal;
- Carriers (vessels, trucks, vans etc) of prohibited items into the country;
- Importation of used accessories and parts of cooling appliances like compressors, thermostats, gaskets etc.;
- Importation of used automatic vending machines; and
- Importation of used display refrigerators.
The Energy Commission is calling on the general public to be aware of the up and coming regulations which may be passed by parliament, hopefully by the first quarter of 2021.