The Business and Financial Times reported yesterday that the Energy Commission (EC) has moved to effect the ban on the importation of used air conditioners, following recent increases in power tariffs. The paper quoted the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1932 of 2008, which bans the importation, sale and distribution of used air conditioners, as well as the manufacture, sale or importation of incandescent lamps.

The implementation of the L I, which came to force in October 2008, had been lenient to allow importers and traders to adjust their operations. "In the light of the recent challenges in energy supplies and high end-user power tariff adjustment, energy efficiency and conservation have become critical, the paper quoted the EC public affairs officer", Mr. Victor Owusu as saying.

The paper also quoted statistics from the EC, which show that Ghana is a high consumer of electricity when compared with the developed countries. Energy consumption through refrigeration in Ghana during 2006 for instance was 1400kwh per year, contrasting sharply with 605kwh per year for the US and 540kwh for Europe.

The Chronicle has in the past expressed concern about the wholesale importation of used electrical gadgets into this country. These gadgets, especially the used refrigerators and air conditioners consume a lot of energy, that is why their original owners in the developed countries usually get rid of them.

Unfortunately, because these second hand electrical gadgets are cheap on the market, most Ghanaians tend to patronize them, forgetting the effect they have on our overall energy consumption and the environment. Most of the electricity bills that are skyrocketing in most homes, especially in the compound houses, could be attributed to the use of these high energy consumption gadgets.

We are, therefore, surprised that even though a law has been passed to regulate the importation of these gadgets, it is not being enforced. If as a developing country, our energy consumption is more than that of Europe and the US, where energy supply is in abundance, then it means we have a serious problem that must be addressed.

Yes, we are poor, but if the use of old electrical gadgets would cause negative effect on the economy and environment, then the government has an onerous duty to nip this canker in the bud.

Laws are passed to achieve a certain aim, and we must endeavour to enforce them.

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