Ghana plans to enforce a ban on the sale of second-hand underwear beginning in February, an official said on Monday, citing the health risks involved in the hawking of the garments by street vendors.
“We are collaborating with the Ghana Standard Board to halt the importation of second-hand underwear into the country as a measure to promote good health and reduce government’s expenditure on health,” said Appiah Donyinah, director of import and export at the trade ministry.
The enforcement of the ban on imports and sales in the West African nation would extend to other used goods as well, including mattresses, handkerchiefs, socks and pants, he said.
PHOTO: REUTERS 照片：路透
“We banned the importation of these items into the country some time in 1994, but the implementation was not effective,” said Donyinah. “Now we are going to make sure that it is fully implemented.”
Youths who sell wares on the streets of the capital Accra also deal in second-hand underwear that is brought in from outside the country and is cheaper than the new versions.
Second-hand goods are often brought in to Ghana and other African nations from wealthier countries.
“The government will throw us out of business should this ban come into effect. This is my only source of livelihood,” Seth Opare, a dealer at Accra’s Makorla Market, told AFP.
Another dealer in second-hand pants said the ban was unfair.
“People patronize my goods because they are not expensive as compared to the new ones in the market,” said Kwesi Anim. “The government must consider the plight of the poor and change their decision.”
(AFP)
迦納官方人員週一表示，明年二月份開始將禁止二手內衣褲的銷售，原因是街頭小販沿街販賣時，有可能產生健康問題。
掌管貿易部進出口業務的阿匹亞‧多尼納表示，「為了推廣健康概念與減少政府醫療支出，我們與迦納標準局合作，禁止二手內衣褲進口。」
該西非國家將頒布的進口商品禁令，也將延伸至其它物資，包括床墊、手帕、襪子，與褲子等。
多尼納說，「我們曾於一九九四年禁止進口這些項目，但卻沒有確實實施。現在我們將確認命令徹底執行。」
於首都阿克拉街頭販賣各種物品的年輕人，也兼賣國外進口，比新品更便宜的二手內衣褲。
二手貨通常從更富有的國家引進迦納與其他非洲國家。
阿克拉麻寇拉市場小販塞斯‧歐霸雷告訴法新社，「如果這個禁令真的實施，政府會迫使我們歇業。這是我生活唯一來源。」
還有位販賣二手長褲的小販說，這個禁令不公平。
奎西‧阿尼姆說，「顧客會上門就是因為我的東西比市場上的新品便宜。政府必須考慮到窮人的困境，並且改變這項決定。」
（法新社／翻譯：吳岱璟）
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