Stories by Bernice Bessey (bbessey@yahoo.com)
The Energy Commission, as part of promoting energy efficiency and the transformation of refrigerating appliances market, says it will be establishing a fridge assembly plant in the country.
The idea, according to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Sherry Ayittey, is to ensure that Ghana gets fridges that are suitable to her atmospheric conditions. The Minister disclosed this at the rebirth of the Ghana Association of Importers and Sellers of Used Refrigerators (GAISUR) to Refrigerators Cooperative Association of Ghana (REFCAG) in Accra.
She said the commission was assisting the dealers in various ways, including the development of a business plan and feasibility studies aimed at attracting an investor to produce refrigerators locally, “granting a first time buy rebate to enable them penetrating into the new market”. The REFCAG, which has been denied the importation and selling of used fridges, would now display on the market PROLUX and ENSADA brands, approved by the commission.
She explained that the enforcement of the ban on the importation of used refrigerators was based on certain indisputable facts that the majority of these used fridges were old and discarded in their countries of origin. According to a scientific study done in 2006, it revealed that used fridges consume an average of 1,200KWh of electricity a year, a consumption which is three times the level allowed in countries with robust standards and labeling programmes. She, however, agreed that the ban had put used fridge importers, wholesalers, retailers, mechanics and others out of jobs.
She also urged the dealers to take advantage the PROLUX and ENSADA brands, as the used fridges are no long allowed in the country. The Chairman of REFCAG, George Asumadu, said even though used fridges have helped many homes to have access to refrigerators, it was also important for the members and citizenry to comply with the Energy Commission regulations to protect the environment.