Importers of electrical appliances have been urged to comply with the directives outlined in the Standards and Labelling Regulations of the Energy Commission of Ghana to avoid sanctions, including the seizure and potential re-exportation of the appliances at the importer’s expense.
The Energy Commission, per its mandate under Act 541, 1997 has nineteen (19) laws to regulate electrical appliances and renewable energy markets and products. The purpose of these regulations is, among others, to prevent Ghana from becoming a destination for sub-standard new and used appliances, reduce demand for electricity, which necessitates additional generation capacity with its associated costs, and protect the consumer from purchasing unsuitable appliances.
A group photo of officials of the GSA, Energy Commission and members of the Ghana Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA)
The caution is especially pertinent considering the full implementation of the nineteen (19) amended regulations that prohibit the importation of electrical appliances that do not meet the minimum energy efficiency performance standards. The amended regulations are scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, 1st November 2023.
In light of this, importers are encouraged to seek guidance from both the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) and the Ghana Standards Authority when in doubt. They are also advised to leverage additional resources such as the GH Certified Appliance App developed by the Ghana Energy Commission to verify the categories of electrical appliances prohibited from importation into Ghana, in cases of uncertainty.
Senior Officer with the Energy Efficiency Unit of the Energy Commission, Mr. Edwin Kwasi Tamakloe and the Head of the Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation Department of the GSA, Mrs. Monica Josiah.
These pieces of advice were communicated during a meeting between officers of the GSA, the Energy Commission of Ghana, and members of the Ghana Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA) held on Thursday, 19th October 2023, at Makola in Accra. The purpose of the meeting was to educate members of the association on the regulations, guidelines, and requirements set by the Ghana Energy Commission for the importation of electrical appliances, following receipt of complaints of challenges with clearing imported electrical appliances by importers of electrical appliances.
A Senior Officer of the Energy Efficiency Unit of the Energy Commission, Mr. Edwin Kwasi Tamakloe, emphasized the need for importers to register with the Commission and obtain import certificates to facilitate cost-effectiveness in their businesses. He also mentioned that the Commission intends to distribute informative fliers on the amended regulations ahead of the 1st November 2023 enforcement timeline to aid compliance.
Senior Officer with the Energy Efficiency Unit of the Energy Commission, Mr. Edwin Kwasi Tamakloe demonstrates the high levels of power consumption of banned electrical appliances.
In response to the concerns raised by the importers, the Head of the Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation Department of GSA, Mrs. Monica Josiah, advised importers to actively engage with GSA for updates on evolving trends. She further encouraged the importers to reach out to GSA through its offices located at the country’s entry points to receive assistance in dealing with any challenges they may encounter.
A member of the Ghana Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA) asking questions during the Q and A session.
