The ban on the importation, distribution and the sale of used undergarments is expected to take effect from March this year. The Ghana Standards Board (GSB) said this will help prevent the health risks associated with the used undergarments. The board declared its intention to strictly enforce the ban nationwide last month. But speaking in an interview with Adom Business Report on Wednesday, 23 February 2011, the Chief Patron of the Used Clothing Association of Ghana, Mr. Charles Alan Gyimah says the association "does not welcome the ban". He alleged that some people within the Ministry of Trade are sabotaging the activities of second hand cloth dealers because of their parochial interest. Mr. Gyimah also discounted the notion by the Ghana Standards Board that used undergarments are hazardous to the health of people, and has challenged them to make public an authentic medical report to substantiate the claim. To Mr. Gyimah, the Ghana Standards Board has resorted to this option to harass and collapse the business of second hand clothing in the country. It would be recalled that the Director of the Inspectorate Division of the Board, Mr. Kofi Nagetey said the GSB would undertake swoops with the security agencies to get rid of used undergarments on the market. He said all consignments of used undergarments would be inspected by the GSB before they would be allowed into the country at the various ports and entry points. "Any consignment of used goods found to contain any used undergarments would be confiscated and destroyed," Mr. Nagetey said. He said presently, the Board had mounted public education on the dangers of wearing used undergarments for importers and dealers in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi. Mr. Nagetey said the Board has intensified market surveillance and is also engaging with stakeholders, especially the association of importers and dealers in used clothing. He said Legislative Instrument (LI) 1586 which was passed in 1994 bans the importation, clearance and sale of used undergarments. But Mr. gyimah told Adom Business News that the Association is planning to send a petition to the Ministry of Trade to call for an extension of the ban, since most of the dealers have containers that are yet to be cleared. Story: Afia Akyere/Adom News