The Kumasi Home Use Dealers Association (KHUDA) has petitioned against the decision by the government to ban the importation of all used electrical appliances.
The association has drawn the attention of John Abdulai Jinapor, Member of Parliament (MP) for Yapei/Kusawgu Constituency and Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Mines and Energy, to the plight of the members in a petition.
In a statement jointly signed by Messrs Evans Ohenese Senyah, Edward Baffour Sencherey and James Asante, Chairman, Vice Chair and Public Relations Officer respectively, the association called for a review of the decision without any delay, describing it as most unfortunate.
According to the aggrieved executives, the policy, if not reviewed, would 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 of them depend largely on these appliances to make a living.
The association said: “The way and manner in which the Legislative Instrument was rushed through Parliament without adequate consultation and extensive engagement with the various stakeholders was most unfortunate and appalling.”
It, therefore, reminded the Energy Commission that best practices would 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.
The association also frowned on the lack of a grace period or transition period before implementing this policy, which situation it saw as very disturbing.
“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 abound,” the executives noted.
The association explained that some of these used electrical appliances can be more energy efficient and durable than new ones, depending on the make, brand, and standards, and that the policy contradicts the government’s position that the country had so much excess capacity.
It further explained 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.
The union executives indicated that the policy was not only unfair, but also discriminatory, because Ghanaian returnees would not be allowed to bring in his or her 3-month-old electrical appliance, which, by all intents and purposes, could still be as good and useful as a new one.
As a result, the association has suggested that the government resorts to the use of standard and effective regulatory measures, rather than this very harsh policy of banning all used electrical appliances towards achieving energy efficiency and prevent dumping.
The association said 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.
It has, therefore, called on the Energy Commission and the government to as a matter of urgency, withdraw the policy and allow for further consultation, engagement with the relevant stakeholders and a possible review and adjustments before the implementation of the policy.
