Ranking Member on the Mines, and Energy Committee, John Abdulai Jinapor, is asking government to withdraw the ban on the importation of used electrical appliances.
He described the government’s decision as “unfortunate” and called for a review immediately.
John Abu Jinapor’s comments follows the Energy Commission’s ban on importation of some 19 electric appliances and renewable energy products.
In its statement to the effect of the ban, the Commission said the move was to help stop the country from becoming the depot for new but substandard and used products.
However, the Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu Constituency believes the policy if not reviewed, will not only render a vast majority of those who trade in these appliances unemployed, but would equally have severe economic consequences on the already impoverished Ghanaian consumer, since most many depend largely on these appliances.
“The way and manner in which the Legislative Instrument (LI) was rushed through Parliament without adequate consultation and extensive engagement with the various stakeholders was most unfortunate and appalling.
It is important to remind the Energy Commission that best practices will require the Commission to engage in extensive consultations particularly with the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, to solicit their views and input on such an important LI before implementation.
Even more disturbing is the lack of a grace period or transition period before implementing this policy. For such a policy that has far-reaching consequences, it is only proper that some transition period is allowed to enable traders and consumers ample time to adjust to the policy, especially this time that the uncertainties in the Ghanaian economy are abound,” he said in a release.
According to the lawmaker, the policy clearly contradicts the Government’s position that the country has so much excess capacity.
BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT
The decision by the Government of Ghana, acting through the Energy Commission, to ban the importation of all used electrical appliances into the country is most unfortunate and must be reviewed immediately.
This policy if not reviewed, will not only render a vast majority of those who trade in these appliances unemployed, but would equally have severe economic consequences on the already impoverished Ghanaian consumer, since most many depend largely on these appliances.
The way and manner in which the Legislative Instrument (LI) was rushed through Parliament without adequate consultation and extensive engagement with the various stakeholders was most unfortunate and appalling.
It is important to remind the Energy Commission that best practices will require the Commission to engage in extensive consultations particularly with the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, to solicit their views and input on such an important LI before implementation.
Even more disturbing is the lack of a grace period or transition period before implementing this policy. For such a policy that has far-reaching consequences, it is only proper that some transition period is allowed to enable traders and consumers ample time to adjust to the policy, especially this time that the uncertainties in the Ghanaian economy are abound.
It must be noted that some of these used electrical appliances can be more energy efficient and durable than new ones depending on the make, brand, and standards.
This policy clearly contradicts the Government’s position that the country has so much excess capacity.
For the records, it must be noted that the current electricity tariff structure is graduated in bands with higher payments for higher electricity consumption which serves as a gentle caution for consumers to acquire energy-efficient appliances whether new or used ones.
By this policy, even a returnee Ghanaian is not allowed to come along with his or her 3-month-old electrical appliance, which, by all intends and purposes, could still be as good and useful as a new one. This current policy is not only unfair but discriminatory.
The solution to achieving energy efficiency and preventing DUMPING is to resort to the use of standards and effective regulatory measures rather than this very harsh policy of banning all used electrical appliances.
So, the government must be ready to engage, learn from best practices, and adopt sustainable regulatory measures to achieve results other than reacting inappropriately to situations such as this.
We therefore, call on the Energy Commission and for that matter the government, to as a matter of urgency, withdraw this current policy and allow for further consultation, engagement with the relevant stakeholders and a possible review and adjustments before the implementation of the policy.
Thank you.
-Signed-
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor
MP-Yapei/Kusawgu Constituency
(Ranking Member, Mines, and Energy Committee)
