West African nation Ghana plans to place a ban on imports of used fridges, air-conditioners, television (TV) sets and electronic irons by January 2013. But importers of these goods have protested against the possible move.

Ghana’s Energy Commission, Dr. Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, says his country wants to cut back on electronic waste, while also preventing high energy-usage second-hand devices from entering the country.

Ghana has a big electronic waste problem, as a report released by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) this year said that in 2009 around 70% of all electronic imports to the country were used, while the remaining 30% was determined to be non-functioning, ending up as e-waste.

Ahenkorah also said that some second-hand TV sets, for example, consume about 10 watts of electricity just on standby mode.

“We are working gradually to develop guidelines for the importation of TV sets and other electronic products,” said Ahenkorah.

However, the government’s intention to ban these electronic products has not go down well with importers.

Kwame Donkor, a second-hand electronic importer at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, says that if the ban is affected, thousands of Ghanaians could lose their jobs.

He also says that there is a need in Ghana for these second-hand goods, which are affordable to the public.

“Not anyone can afford a new gadget which is usually expensive and not durable.

“Most Ghanaians want quality appliances which they would not spend so much on,” Donkor stated.

But Ghana’s minister of environment, science and technology, Sherry Ayittey, has said that the ban is on track to be implemented on 1 January, 2013.

According to Ayittey, government has already engaged stakeholders and importers regarding the ban of the second-hand electronic products.