The Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, Professor John Gatsi, has raised serious concerns over inadequate inspection of electrical appliances entering the country through the Tema Port, warning that the situation could endanger public safety.
During a working visit to the Tema Port on Friday, February 6, 2026, members of the Board of the Energy Commission, led by Professor Gatsi, observed several operational challenges affecting effective inspection and regulation of imported electrical appliances. Chief among these challenges is the absence of a dedicated warehouse facility for the Commission at the port.
“The lack of a warehouse makes it extremely difficult for our inspectors to seize and securely keep unapproved goods for further investigation,” an inspector of the Commission explained during a briefing to the Board. “In most cases, the importers are allowed to keep the goods, and this increases the risk of unapproved and substandard appliances entering the market.”
The working visit was attended by members of the Board, the Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, and other officials of the Commission. Inspectors stationed at the port used the opportunity to outline several constraints hindering their operations, including inadequate personnel, limited office space, and the absence of storage facilities for seized items.
According to the inspectors, these challenges weaken enforcement at the port and allow many uncertified electrical appliances to make their way onto the Ghanaian market. “Without adequate space and logistics, effective enforcement becomes almost impossible,” one inspector noted.
Reacting to the situation, Professor John Gatsi expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs at the port, describing it as unacceptable. “This situation is worrying and cannot be allowed to continue,” he said. “The safety of consumers must not be compromised.”
Professor Gatsi called for immediate investigations into the challenges raised by the inspectors and urged management of the Commission to work towards improving conditions at the port. “We need urgent interventions to strengthen inspection and enforcement at the Tema Port,” he stressed.
He further charged inspectors of the Energy Commission to remain firm in the discharge of their duties. “I want to encourage you to be strict in enforcing the rules, despite the challenges, to ensure that unapproved and substandard electrical appliances do not reach the market,” he added.
The Energy Commission has repeatedly warned that the importation and sale of uncertified electrical appliances pose serious risks, including electrical fires and damage to property, and says it remains committed to safeguarding consumers through effective regulation and enforcement.
