A MEMBER of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo, has explained that changes to the legal framework for the district level elections (DLE) are geared towards making the conduct of the elections more manageable and less expensive, while at the same time making the sub-structures more effective.
She said with regard to printing of ballot papers for elections, the printers develop plates which are very expensive and time consuming.
She further explained that in the upcoming district level elections, about 12,270 plates shall be developed, including 6,135 for the district assembly and 6,135 for the unit committee elections.
Mrs Adjalo who is in charge of the Western Region was speaking at a briefing of district officers of the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Department (ISD) on the theme: “Harnessing the resources of the EC, NCCE and ISD for improved citizen participation in the 2010”.
The briefing was to upgrade the knowledge of the officers on the legal framework for the district level elections in the light of the changes to the law and share ideas on communication strategies required for effective public education and improve participation in the district level elections.
She said the second peculiar challenge was the inadequate interest of the media in doing public education, adding that the zeal with which the media publicise general elections was almost non-existence with the district level elections.
“Since DLE is non-partisan, there is formal absence of voter education machinery of political parties, because the individual candidates do their own campaigns,” she noted.
Mrs Adjalo said there were also constraints in having adequate numbers of platforms mounted to introduce candidates in the communities that constitute the electoral area.
She added that the time and resources available to the Commission were always not enough to mount the required number of platforms for the candidates.
According to her, the challenges of the 2010 district level elections had been further compounded by the changes to the legal framework for the elections.
Mrs Adjalo said with the brief period between the legal changes, (LI 1983 and CI 68 in November 2010) and the elections on 28th December, 2010; it becomes very difficult to inform the citizenry adequately of the legal changes by way of public education.
She said the Commission was also faced with the constraint of timely release of funds by the government.
She stressed that the challenges of the time called for a proactive stance by the Electoral Commission which was not only charged by the constitution in Article 45 to “conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda” but also to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose.
The Western Regional Director of EC, Mr Steve Opoku-Mensah said the meeting was of specific significance, coming at such a critical period before the district level elections.
He said it would give them the opportunity to strategise to whip up the interest of Ghanaians to participate actively in the upcoming district level elections, since turnout at district level elections in the country had always been lower than that of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
ILLITERACY RATE HIGH IN WESTERN REGION (PAGE 35, DEC 8, 2010)
THE literacy level in the Western Region is 54.3 per cent. Female literacy level is 45.4 per cent, lower than that of male which is 64.4 per cent.
More than half (57.6 per cent) of the people currently in school are at the primary level while junior high school attendance is 15.2 per cent.
There is, therefore, a very high attrition rate between primary and junior high school (JHS) levels.
According to a presentation by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, and Mr George B. Mettle on “Analysis of District Data and Implications for Planning—Western Region,” the region had seen some improvements in educational attainment and enrolment rates at the basic level over the last two decades.
They said people with basic education increased from 28 per cent in 1984 to 34 per cent in 2000 while over 70 per cent of the population in most districts had attained basic education.
However, the two professionals said that enrolment and attainment levels beyond basic were not very encouraging.
Apart from Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis now (Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis) and Wassa West (Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality) which recorded relatively low levels of illiteracy, all the districts have levels much higher than the regional average of 45.7 per cent, with the highest illiteracy levels in Juaboso, Bia and Aowin-Suaman Districts.
The region has about 1,320 primary schools, out of which 1,240 are public and 80 private; 694 JHS, about half the number of primary schools, and this constitutes 10.9 per cent of the total number of JHS in the country.
There are 42 senior high schools (SHS) in the region and most of them are concentrated in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis, where 36 per cent of the localities in the metropolis have such schools.
The situation is more serious in Jomoro, Nzema East and Mpohor Wassa East where more than 40 per cent of children in such communities have to travel 30 kilometres or more before attending SHS.
It was to help improve and promote education in the region that the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, in collaboration with the chiefs and other stakeholders, established the Western Regional Education Trust Fund in 2005 and formed a Board of Trustees for the fund.
The 11-member Board of Trustees of the Western Regional Education Trust Fund has been re-constituted to promote the development of education in the region.
The objectives of the board are to assist brilliant, needy pupils and students, particularly in the public educational institutions, through the award of scholarships, bursaries and grants.
The board is also to improve the provision of teaching and learning materials, equipment and tools in schools.
Besides, the board is to provide incentives for the teaching and non-teaching staff who distinguished themselves and support special teaching and learning programmes and in-service training courses, especially in Mathematics, Science and English.
The main area of concern shall be primary education, even though the other levels of education could be considered depending on particular circumstances.
It is the conviction that when the primary level of education is strengthened through the provision of adequate resources, it will automatically make the other levels of education improve.
In the performance of its duties, the Board of Trustees of the Western Regional Education Trust Fund shall, among others, hold in trust for the people of the Western Region all funds, revenues and assets accruing in the name of the fund.
The board, without prejudice, will determine, approve and authorise the disbursement of benefits from the fund and, at a stakeholders meeting every July, present a report on its stewardship and financial statement on the trust fund.
Inaugurating the re-constituted Board of Trustees, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said the avowed aim of the board was to improve upon the present state of education in the region.
“You will agree with me that education in the region is beset with a number of challenges,” he said.
Mr Aidoo mentioned some of the challenges as children in basic schools who could not continue their education beyond the JHS owing to a number of reasons including financial constraints, while others from the deprived areas were unable to better their education due to inadequate resources in the schools.
Mr Aidoo observed that there were some children who should be in school but were out of school owing to the influence of “galamsey” activities in the mining areas and also fishing activities in the coastal communities.
“Now that the oil boom is around the corner, l hope many more children from the oil producing areas are not going to allow themselves to be distracted by oil related activities, which are likely to affect their education,” he said.
“They will rather avail themselves of the educational opportunities in the region so that they can be well positioned in the good jobs that the oil find will bring,” the regional minister added.
He, therefore, implored members of the board to deliberate on some of those issues and come out with acceptable strategies to address them since all those issues combined to affect education delivery in the region.
The Western Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rebecca Afiba Dadzie, called for interventions which would help strengthen basic education in the region.
That, she said, would help to get more students to the second-cycle and tertiary educational institutions.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Nana Adu Gyamfi, said with the calibre of members of the board, they would deliver to ensure the promotion and improvement of education in the region.
More than half (57.6 per cent) of the people currently in school are at the primary level while junior high school attendance is 15.2 per cent.
There is, therefore, a very high attrition rate between primary and junior high school (JHS) levels.
According to a presentation by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, and Mr George B. Mettle on “Analysis of District Data and Implications for Planning—Western Region,” the region had seen some improvements in educational attainment and enrolment rates at the basic level over the last two decades.
They said people with basic education increased from 28 per cent in 1984 to 34 per cent in 2000 while over 70 per cent of the population in most districts had attained basic education.
However, the two professionals said that enrolment and attainment levels beyond basic were not very encouraging.
Apart from Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis now (Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis) and Wassa West (Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality) which recorded relatively low levels of illiteracy, all the districts have levels much higher than the regional average of 45.7 per cent, with the highest illiteracy levels in Juaboso, Bia and Aowin-Suaman Districts.
The region has about 1,320 primary schools, out of which 1,240 are public and 80 private; 694 JHS, about half the number of primary schools, and this constitutes 10.9 per cent of the total number of JHS in the country.
There are 42 senior high schools (SHS) in the region and most of them are concentrated in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis, where 36 per cent of the localities in the metropolis have such schools.
The situation is more serious in Jomoro, Nzema East and Mpohor Wassa East where more than 40 per cent of children in such communities have to travel 30 kilometres or more before attending SHS.
It was to help improve and promote education in the region that the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, in collaboration with the chiefs and other stakeholders, established the Western Regional Education Trust Fund in 2005 and formed a Board of Trustees for the fund.
The 11-member Board of Trustees of the Western Regional Education Trust Fund has been re-constituted to promote the development of education in the region.
The objectives of the board are to assist brilliant, needy pupils and students, particularly in the public educational institutions, through the award of scholarships, bursaries and grants.
The board is also to improve the provision of teaching and learning materials, equipment and tools in schools.
Besides, the board is to provide incentives for the teaching and non-teaching staff who distinguished themselves and support special teaching and learning programmes and in-service training courses, especially in Mathematics, Science and English.
The main area of concern shall be primary education, even though the other levels of education could be considered depending on particular circumstances.
It is the conviction that when the primary level of education is strengthened through the provision of adequate resources, it will automatically make the other levels of education improve.
In the performance of its duties, the Board of Trustees of the Western Regional Education Trust Fund shall, among others, hold in trust for the people of the Western Region all funds, revenues and assets accruing in the name of the fund.
The board, without prejudice, will determine, approve and authorise the disbursement of benefits from the fund and, at a stakeholders meeting every July, present a report on its stewardship and financial statement on the trust fund.
Inaugurating the re-constituted Board of Trustees, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said the avowed aim of the board was to improve upon the present state of education in the region.
“You will agree with me that education in the region is beset with a number of challenges,” he said.
Mr Aidoo mentioned some of the challenges as children in basic schools who could not continue their education beyond the JHS owing to a number of reasons including financial constraints, while others from the deprived areas were unable to better their education due to inadequate resources in the schools.
Mr Aidoo observed that there were some children who should be in school but were out of school owing to the influence of “galamsey” activities in the mining areas and also fishing activities in the coastal communities.
“Now that the oil boom is around the corner, l hope many more children from the oil producing areas are not going to allow themselves to be distracted by oil related activities, which are likely to affect their education,” he said.
“They will rather avail themselves of the educational opportunities in the region so that they can be well positioned in the good jobs that the oil find will bring,” the regional minister added.
He, therefore, implored members of the board to deliberate on some of those issues and come out with acceptable strategies to address them since all those issues combined to affect education delivery in the region.
The Western Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rebecca Afiba Dadzie, called for interventions which would help strengthen basic education in the region.
That, she said, would help to get more students to the second-cycle and tertiary educational institutions.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Nana Adu Gyamfi, said with the calibre of members of the board, they would deliver to ensure the promotion and improvement of education in the region.
Monday, December 6, 2010
MINISTRY DRAWS PLANS FOR RAILWAY PROJECT (PAGE 67, DEC 6, 2010)
A Master Plan for the rehabilitation and construction of a nationwide railway project is being developed by the Ministry of Transport to be executed by the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation.
The project is to integrate new railway lines with existing ones from Nsawam to Kumasi, Ejisu to Paga and Tamale to Yendi.
It also includes the supply of rolling stock, as well as the integration of the Tema-Accra and Accra-Nsawam railway lines on standard gauge and the rehabilitation of the existing Accra-Nsawam rail line, including the supply of diesel units.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor, who announced the programme in Takoradi, noted that the operation of modern rail services had become highly competitive and that the survival of the Ghana Railway Services would require utmost efficiency and reliability.
Addressing the national executive council meeting of the Railway Workers Union in Takoradi, Mrs Attivor said the projects to be executed by the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation are expected to commence in 2011 under public-private partnership arrangements.
She said the rehabilitation of the Western Rail line was scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2011 and expected to be completed within one year, adding that offers had been received from some companies for the development of the Tema-Akosombo-Buipe Multimodal Transport and the Suburban Railway Services within the Accra-Tema metropolis under public-private partnership arrangements.
Mrs Attivor said it was the intention of the government to extend the commuter train services to densely populated areas such as Dansoman, Kasoa and Winneba on the Western Corridor and to Dodowa on the Eastern Corridor.
“Even as we are working to fulfil our side of the agreement, it is our expectation that workers demonstrate great dedication, honesty, hardwork and sacrifice, so that together we help build a better Ghana”, she advised the workers.
The project is to integrate new railway lines with existing ones from Nsawam to Kumasi, Ejisu to Paga and Tamale to Yendi.
It also includes the supply of rolling stock, as well as the integration of the Tema-Accra and Accra-Nsawam railway lines on standard gauge and the rehabilitation of the existing Accra-Nsawam rail line, including the supply of diesel units.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor, who announced the programme in Takoradi, noted that the operation of modern rail services had become highly competitive and that the survival of the Ghana Railway Services would require utmost efficiency and reliability.
Addressing the national executive council meeting of the Railway Workers Union in Takoradi, Mrs Attivor said the projects to be executed by the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation are expected to commence in 2011 under public-private partnership arrangements.
She said the rehabilitation of the Western Rail line was scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2011 and expected to be completed within one year, adding that offers had been received from some companies for the development of the Tema-Akosombo-Buipe Multimodal Transport and the Suburban Railway Services within the Accra-Tema metropolis under public-private partnership arrangements.
Mrs Attivor said it was the intention of the government to extend the commuter train services to densely populated areas such as Dansoman, Kasoa and Winneba on the Western Corridor and to Dodowa on the Eastern Corridor.
“Even as we are working to fulfil our side of the agreement, it is our expectation that workers demonstrate great dedication, honesty, hardwork and sacrifice, so that together we help build a better Ghana”, she advised the workers.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
HELP DEVELOP OSEIKOJOKROM — NANA OSEI (PAGE 42, DEC 2, 2010)
THE Chief of Oseikojokrom in the Bia District in the Western Region, Nana Osei Kojo, has called on the government to give the border town a facelift since many people visit it as a tourist destination.
He said even though schoolchildren and United Nations peace keepers from Cote d’lvoire usually visited the town for excursion or as tourists, the roads of the town and the local market did not befit the status of the town.
Nana Osei made the call when the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, visited the town as part of a four-day official working visit to the Bia District.
Nana Osei stressed the need for the government to extend water and electricity supplies to the newly developing parts of the town.
Mr Aidoo advised the chiefs in the area to make a layout for the orderly development of the town.
He also urged them to assist the government to curb the smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring Cote d’lvoire.
The regional minister later addressed security personnel at the Oseikojokrom Border Post and urged them to be vigilant by reporting all suspicious characters and activities to the National Security Council for prompt action, to ensure that the sovereignty of the nation was secured.
He said last year, everyone was embarrassed by the cocoa smuggling activities which was so alarming in the region, particularly at Elubo, Ahimakrom, Oseikojokrom, Enchi and Dadieso.
The Base Commander of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Chief Collector D.Y. Biyam, said the security personnel at the Border Post were enjoying stable and peaceful environment, and co-operation from other security personnel of the Cote d’lvoire side of the border.
He said smuggling of cocoa was under control, and added that there was virtually no smuggling at the border.
Mr Biyam said the terrible nature of the road network in the area had become disincentive to people who wanted to do business at the border.
He said even though schoolchildren and United Nations peace keepers from Cote d’lvoire usually visited the town for excursion or as tourists, the roads of the town and the local market did not befit the status of the town.
Nana Osei made the call when the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, visited the town as part of a four-day official working visit to the Bia District.
Nana Osei stressed the need for the government to extend water and electricity supplies to the newly developing parts of the town.
Mr Aidoo advised the chiefs in the area to make a layout for the orderly development of the town.
He also urged them to assist the government to curb the smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring Cote d’lvoire.
The regional minister later addressed security personnel at the Oseikojokrom Border Post and urged them to be vigilant by reporting all suspicious characters and activities to the National Security Council for prompt action, to ensure that the sovereignty of the nation was secured.
He said last year, everyone was embarrassed by the cocoa smuggling activities which was so alarming in the region, particularly at Elubo, Ahimakrom, Oseikojokrom, Enchi and Dadieso.
The Base Commander of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Chief Collector D.Y. Biyam, said the security personnel at the Border Post were enjoying stable and peaceful environment, and co-operation from other security personnel of the Cote d’lvoire side of the border.
He said smuggling of cocoa was under control, and added that there was virtually no smuggling at the border.
Mr Biyam said the terrible nature of the road network in the area had become disincentive to people who wanted to do business at the border.
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD BUILDS GUEST HOUSE NEAR TAKORADI (PAGE 18, NOV 30, 2010)
THE Western Regional Council of the Assemblies of God Church has embarked on the construction of a three-storey building comprising 86 suites at Ituma, near Takoradi, to be used as a guest house.
The building will enable church leaders as well as the public to have an opportunity to retreat and reflect on various ventures and endeavours.
The first phase of the five-year project, comprising the construction of the sub structure, is estimated to cost GH¢ 50,000 and it is located on a 12-plot lan.
At a short ceremony to cut the sod for the commencement of the project, the acting Western Regional Superintendent of the church, Reverend Francis Wusu Grand, said he believed that the project would be of enormous help to people in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis.
He said the Assemblies of God Church had a holistic mission of taking care of the spiritual and material needs of the society.
Reverend Grand stressed that the church would need the financial and prayer support of all members in the region to ensure the successful completion of the project.
The building will enable church leaders as well as the public to have an opportunity to retreat and reflect on various ventures and endeavours.
The first phase of the five-year project, comprising the construction of the sub structure, is estimated to cost GH¢ 50,000 and it is located on a 12-plot lan.
At a short ceremony to cut the sod for the commencement of the project, the acting Western Regional Superintendent of the church, Reverend Francis Wusu Grand, said he believed that the project would be of enormous help to people in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis.
He said the Assemblies of God Church had a holistic mission of taking care of the spiritual and material needs of the society.
Reverend Grand stressed that the church would need the financial and prayer support of all members in the region to ensure the successful completion of the project.
TAKORADI NOW EXPENSIVE CITY...Due to oil discovery (PAGE 18, NOV 30, 2010)
THE discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities at the West Cape Three Points in the Western Region in 2007 has triggered the high cost of living in Takoradi and its immediate environs in recent times.
Since the oil find three years ago, the cost of living in Takoradi and surrounding communities has been on the ascendancy.
The discovery of oil has brought in its wake an upward review of prices of all items, goods and services being provided in the city.
The most affected items include food, office and residential accommodation as well as land for real estate development.
As a result of the oil find and in anticipation of making good business when commercial production of oil many companies, including financial and banking institutions, have moved in to open branches of their offices in Takoradi to take advantage of the “black gold”.
Also many oil and gas related companies have found their way into Takoradi. This has obviously increased the population in Takoradi and its environs, thereby putting pressure on the inadequate housing and office accommodation in the city.
Landlords have started charging exorbitant prices on their houses in anticipation of ejecting tenants to enable the landlords to rent such houses to the oil companies as well as financial and banking institutions.
High prices of goods and services, as well as residential and office accommodation are now having the characteristics of gold mining communities and towns such as Tarkwa, Obuasi, Bibiani, Bogoso, Prestea.
These characteristics are gradually creeping into Takoradi and its surrounding communities as a result of the discovery of the “black gold” in the Western Region.
Land acquisition in Takoradi and nearby communities, districts and municipalities in the areas of the Jubilee Oil Fields at Cape Three Points have also become a lucrative venture for land owners.
Some open spaces in Takoradi have been offered for the construction of office accommodation for oil or oil related companies and shopping malls.
The emerging petroleum industry is also affecting the prices of hotel accommodation in Takoradi, as some of the leading hotels in the “oil city” have reviewed their prices upwards.
The prices range between GHc 120.00 and GHc 310.00 and are likely to go up in the future when there would be an influx of people in the city to do business in the oil and gas industry.
To sum it up, the cost of living in Takoradi and its environs is gradually becoming unbearable as prices of goods and services as well as office and residential accommodation continue to rise.
So residents of Takoradi should be prepared and condition themselves to face the hard days ahead when the country’s oil and gas are in full production.
Since the oil find three years ago, the cost of living in Takoradi and surrounding communities has been on the ascendancy.
The discovery of oil has brought in its wake an upward review of prices of all items, goods and services being provided in the city.
The most affected items include food, office and residential accommodation as well as land for real estate development.
As a result of the oil find and in anticipation of making good business when commercial production of oil many companies, including financial and banking institutions, have moved in to open branches of their offices in Takoradi to take advantage of the “black gold”.
Also many oil and gas related companies have found their way into Takoradi. This has obviously increased the population in Takoradi and its environs, thereby putting pressure on the inadequate housing and office accommodation in the city.
Landlords have started charging exorbitant prices on their houses in anticipation of ejecting tenants to enable the landlords to rent such houses to the oil companies as well as financial and banking institutions.
High prices of goods and services, as well as residential and office accommodation are now having the characteristics of gold mining communities and towns such as Tarkwa, Obuasi, Bibiani, Bogoso, Prestea.
These characteristics are gradually creeping into Takoradi and its surrounding communities as a result of the discovery of the “black gold” in the Western Region.
Land acquisition in Takoradi and nearby communities, districts and municipalities in the areas of the Jubilee Oil Fields at Cape Three Points have also become a lucrative venture for land owners.
Some open spaces in Takoradi have been offered for the construction of office accommodation for oil or oil related companies and shopping malls.
The emerging petroleum industry is also affecting the prices of hotel accommodation in Takoradi, as some of the leading hotels in the “oil city” have reviewed their prices upwards.
The prices range between GHc 120.00 and GHc 310.00 and are likely to go up in the future when there would be an influx of people in the city to do business in the oil and gas industry.
To sum it up, the cost of living in Takoradi and its environs is gradually becoming unbearable as prices of goods and services as well as office and residential accommodation continue to rise.
So residents of Takoradi should be prepared and condition themselves to face the hard days ahead when the country’s oil and gas are in full production.
DON'T IMPORT USED UNDERGARMENTS (PAGE 18, NOV 30, 2010)
Over 130 used clothes dealers and importers in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis have been educated on the health implications that the sale of used undergarments pose to members of the public who use them.
The education was undertaken by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), which has intensified its public education on the enforcement of the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1586, 1994 which prohibits the importation, distribution and sale of used undergarments, such as brassieres, pants, handkerchiefs and singlets.
The banned items also include, used mattresses and sanitary ware such as bathtubs, sinks, water closets or toilet bowls, among others.
The Ghana Standards Board has over the years observed that, importers of used clothing have been importing used undergarments which have been prohibited by the Ministry of Trade and Industry as stipulated in the LI 1586, 1994.
These prohibited goods are hidden among other used clothing such as shirts, trousers and jackets in the bales, thus making it difficult to detect them at the ports of entry, and are openly sold at the markets and along some streets in towns and villages in the country.
The GSB has, therefore, been working hard to stem the importation of these used undergarments through public education on the dangers of wearing used undergarments, engaging with stakeholders especially, the association of importers and dealers in used clothing and also intensification of market surveillance.
Speaking at the forum, the Director of the Inspectorate Division of the Ghana Standards Board, Mr F.Kofi Nagetey, said from February next year, all consignments of used clothing would be inspected by the Ghana Standards Board before they are released to the importers.
He said any consignment of used goods found to contain any used undergarments would be confiscated and destroyed.
Mr Nagetey added that the board would also organise swoops with the security agencies to get rid of used undergarments on the markets.
“The Ghana Standards Board believes that if all stakeholders work together, we shall be able to bring to the barest minimum, the importation and clearance of these used undergarments”, he noted.
He said used undergarments were a source of micro-organisms that could cause skin infection.
Mr Nagetey explained that the exercise was not meant to destroy anybody’s business, but was being done because of the risk involved in the patronage of used undergarments by some people.
He stressed that the programme would be intensified and sustained.
The Director of Trade Facilitation of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Ntim Donkoh said the LI 1586, 1994 was meant to protect the health and safety of consumers.
He said that though a law had been passed, those banned undergarments continued to be patronised on the open market, adding that the government would continue to enforce the law.
The education was undertaken by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), which has intensified its public education on the enforcement of the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1586, 1994 which prohibits the importation, distribution and sale of used undergarments, such as brassieres, pants, handkerchiefs and singlets.
The banned items also include, used mattresses and sanitary ware such as bathtubs, sinks, water closets or toilet bowls, among others.
The Ghana Standards Board has over the years observed that, importers of used clothing have been importing used undergarments which have been prohibited by the Ministry of Trade and Industry as stipulated in the LI 1586, 1994.
These prohibited goods are hidden among other used clothing such as shirts, trousers and jackets in the bales, thus making it difficult to detect them at the ports of entry, and are openly sold at the markets and along some streets in towns and villages in the country.
The GSB has, therefore, been working hard to stem the importation of these used undergarments through public education on the dangers of wearing used undergarments, engaging with stakeholders especially, the association of importers and dealers in used clothing and also intensification of market surveillance.
Speaking at the forum, the Director of the Inspectorate Division of the Ghana Standards Board, Mr F.Kofi Nagetey, said from February next year, all consignments of used clothing would be inspected by the Ghana Standards Board before they are released to the importers.
He said any consignment of used goods found to contain any used undergarments would be confiscated and destroyed.
Mr Nagetey added that the board would also organise swoops with the security agencies to get rid of used undergarments on the markets.
“The Ghana Standards Board believes that if all stakeholders work together, we shall be able to bring to the barest minimum, the importation and clearance of these used undergarments”, he noted.
He said used undergarments were a source of micro-organisms that could cause skin infection.
Mr Nagetey explained that the exercise was not meant to destroy anybody’s business, but was being done because of the risk involved in the patronage of used undergarments by some people.
He stressed that the programme would be intensified and sustained.
The Director of Trade Facilitation of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Ntim Donkoh said the LI 1586, 1994 was meant to protect the health and safety of consumers.
He said that though a law had been passed, those banned undergarments continued to be patronised on the open market, adding that the government would continue to enforce the law.
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