USED CLOTHES SELLERS WANT BAN LIFTED (PAGE 36, DEC 6, 2010)

MEMBERS of the Kumasi Used Clothes Sellers Association have called for the lifting of the ban on undergarments since there is no empirical evidence to prove that the use of such products have health hazards for users.
They contended that undergarments imported are treated with the best of hygienic care before being shipped into the country, and indicated that they have no health implications for users of the products.
At a forum in Kumasi to educate members of the association on a Legislative Instrument introduced in 1994 prohibiting the importation and clearance of used undergarments, the acting Director of the Inspectorate Division of the Ghana Standards Board, Mr F. Kofi Nagetey, noted that the law would be strictly enforced by February 1, 2011.
“The Ghana Standards Board now intends to enforce this legislation to prevent the importation, distribution and sale of these used undergarments”, he noted and stressed “ all consignments of used clothing would be inspected by the Ghana Standards Board before release at the various ports and entry points by the first quarter of 2011”.
He pointed out that notwithstanding the ban on the importation of undergarments “ the prohibited goods are hidden among other used clothing like shirts , jackets and trousers in bales, making it difficult to detect them at the ports.
Explaining why the products were banned , Mr Nagetey said, undergarments “ are good source of micro-organisms that can cause skin infection.”
He pointed out that fungal candidiasis and flora infections are common among those who use undergarment clothes and this had compelled the government to ban their importation into the country.
According to Mr Nagetey, the forum was part of the public education for the public to appreciate the dangers of wearing used undergarments.
He said similar fora had taken place in Accra and Sekondi and warned that after the public education and the February 1, 2011 deadline “the Ghana Standards Board will intensify, market surveillance and with the support of the security swoop on traders to get rid of used undergarments on the markets.”
He said consignments of used goods “found to contain any used undergarments would be confiscated and destroyed”.
It was during question time that members of the used clothes association expressed concern about the law prohibiting the importation, distribution and sale of the used undergarments and called for the lifting of the ban.
They further contended that the ban was politically motivated to cripple their business and questioned why the Legislative Instrument that introduced the law in 1994 was not enforced until February 1, 2011.
Others, however, called for the extension of the February 1, 2011 deadline and suggested that since they were yet to inform their partners, the deadline should be extended to May or June next year.