More than 800 used refrigerators have already been turned in for brand-new ones under the Energy Commission's (EC's) rebate scheme to phase out second-hand refrigerators from the Ghanaian market. The project is being implemented by the government following the ban on the importation of used refrigerators into the country which took effect from January 1, 2013. The government's support is to assist owners of used refrigerators to acquire new ones. The commission launched the scheme on a pilot basis in the Greater Accra Region in September last year — three months ahead of the ban. The Project Coordinator at the commission, Mr Eric Kumi Antwi-Agyei, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the project would now be scaled up to other parts of the country. The EC eventually seeks to begin the stop the importation of fridges, most of which are not designed for the Ghanaian market. The purpose of the Refrigerator Rebate and Exchange Scheme is to support consumers to purchase efficient refrigerators when they turn in their old, inefficient refrigerators in working condition to the scheme. In other words, under the project, consumers who turn in their old refrigerating appliances will be supported financially to pay part of the cost of new refrigerators. Such fridge owners receive discounts of up to GH02OO and top-up to purchase new refrigerators or freezers. ECOBANK is also providing credit facilities to support customers who require financing for the top-up. A scrap yard has been established to dismantle refrigerators that will be turned in. The move is to recover all the ozone-depleting . substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Some 50,000 energy-efficient refrigerators are expected to be sold under the programme over the next three years of the project implementation. This will save about 216MWh of electricity for the country, which is more than half of the electricity that will be produced by the Bui Dam when completed. The scheme is an aspect of the Refrigerator Energy-Efficiency Project which is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the EC. Ghana is the first country in Africa to enforce a ban on used fridges. The government is committing GH¢1m a year for the next three years to stimulate the purchase of new refrigerators at designated shops throughout the country.