GSA Wants Law On Second-Hand Goods Enforced

Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has called for a strict enforcement of legislation on second-hand goods imported into the country.

The authority issued a statement yesterday, reminding importers and the public on what legislative instruments (L.I. 1586) of 1994 and (L.I. 1693) of 2001 states on the importation of secondhand goods into the country.

“No person shall import for commercial purpose or in commercial quantities any of the following goods which are second hand or which have been used – handkerchiefs; men, women and children’s underpants; mattresses and sanitary ware”, according to LI 1586 of the Legislation instrument.

According to the statement, this has become necessary following recent media reports on the illegal activities being undertaken at some entry points.

Although there is a legislative instrument which prohibits the importation of secondhand goods, the business is fast rising in the country.

Abeka Lapaz, a suburb of Accra, is one of the major transit points for secondhand goods.

Items such as clothes, shoes, bags, refrigerators, bicycles, electrical appliances, wheelchairs, cooking stoves, bowls, cups and plates are displayed from the Abeka Lapaz Traffic Light to the Nyamekye Junction stretch on the N1 Highway, on both sides of the roads.

However, the legislative instruments warns that “a person who goes contrary to the regulation, is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding GH¢500,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both and the goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to be seized and forfeited to the State.”

The authority has therefore called on the public to contact the Public Relations Department of the Standard Board Authority to for any information.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum/ thePublisher