Importers of electrical appliances have been urged to adhere to the directives outlined in the Standards and Labelling Regulations of the Energy Commission of Ghana. Failure to comply may lead to 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, has nineteen (19) laws to regulate the markets for electrical appliances and renewable energy products. The purpose of these regulations is, among other things, to prevent Ghana from becoming a desirable destination for both new but substandard and used appliances, reduce electricity demand which necessitates additional generation capacity with its associated fuel cost, and protect the consumer from purchasing unsuitable appliances.
This caution is especially pertinent in anticipation of the full implementation of the nineteen (19) amended regulations that prohibit the importation of electrical appliances not meeting the minimum energy efficiency performance standard requirements, set 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, especially in cases of uncertainty.
This was communicated on Thursday, 19th October 2023, during a meeting between officers from the GSA, the Energy Commission of Ghana, and members of the Ghana Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA) 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.
The meeting was prompted by numerous complaints received by the GSA from electrical appliance importers regarding challenges faced during the clearing of their goods.
A Senior Officer with the Energy Efficiency Unit of the Energy Commission, Mr. Edwin Kwasi Tamakloe, emphasized the necessity for importers to register with the Commission and obtain import certificates to facilitate a cost-effective import business. He also mentioned the Commission’s plan to distribute informative flyers to importers ahead of the 1st November 2023 deadline as part of efforts to ensure compliance.
The importers expressed concerns about the challenges they encounter in keeping up with the evolving trends in import procedures. They note that these difficulties often result in financial losses during the importation process.
In response to the concerns raised by importers regarding difficulties, the Head of the Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation Department of the GSA, Mrs. Monica Josiah, advised importers to actively engage with the GSA for updates on evolving trends. She further encouraged the importers to reach out to any of the GSA’s offices located at the country’s entry points to report challenges and seek resolution.
