Ghana to phase out CFC products by 2010
Gilbert Boyefio
18/09/2008
As part of Ghana's efforts to comply with the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, the country has targeted 2010 to entirely phase out the use of chlorofluorocarbon related products.
The country further hopes to entirely phase out methyl bromide, a powerful fumigant injected into the soil to kill pests before planting, by 2015.
To this end, the Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, has trained 5,000 refrigeration technicians in code of good refrigeration practices as well as the conversion of CFC based domestic refrigeration system to hydrochlorofluorocarbon based, an environmentally safe substance.
The EPA has further signed contracts with 53 workshops in the country to run the conversion. So far, 1,100 refrigerators have so far been converted from CFC based to HCFC based.
This was disclosed by Emmanuel Osae Quansah, Deputy Director of the EPA in-charge of the National Ozone Unit, at a roundtable discussion to mark United Nations International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer in Accra. The programme was organised by the Free World Foundation with support from the UNDP, GEF Small Grant Programme.
Mr Quansah disclosed that the trained refrigerator technicians had been sensitised to educate people who bring their refrigerators for repairs on why they have to switch from CFC based to HCFC based.
He said because the conversion to HCFC is expensive, the EPA supplements every refrigerator converted with US$7, noting, "This also reduces our dependence on CFC based and improves the country"s compliance with the Montreal Protocol.”
He bemoaned the increasing trend of some unscrupulous refrigerator technicians using adulterated gases, and in some cases, falsely labeled gases such as R22 which is used in air conditioners as HCFC.
He said this practice causes serious damage to refrigerators. According to him, the EPA had seized over 500 cylinders of adulterated or falsely labeled gases. He intimated that although thepractice was common in most workshops in the country, it was very prevalent around Kaneshie and Kokomlemle in Accra.
He advised the public to check the name plate at the back of their refrigerators to know the type of gas that they use. “If they use CFC you can then change them to HCFC,” he added.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of Free World Foundation, Rashid Anyetei Odoi, said the harmful effects of the ozone layer depletion on humans, such as skin cancer, premature aging of the skin, and on marine ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles and on plants are too devastating to be ignored.
In a message to mark the occasion, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon noted that after decades of chemical attacks, it might take another 50 years or so for the ozone layer to recover fully.
He said, “As the Montreal Protocol has taught us, when we degrade our environment too far, nursing it back to health tends to be a long journey, not a quick fix.”
According to him, the overarching lesson of the Protocol is that by acting on one challenge, we also act on many others.
18/09/2008
As part of Ghana's efforts to comply with the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, the country has targeted 2010 to entirely phase out the use of chlorofluorocarbon related products.
The country further hopes to entirely phase out methyl bromide, a powerful fumigant injected into the soil to kill pests before planting, by 2015.
To this end, the Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, has trained 5,000 refrigeration technicians in code of good refrigeration practices as well as the conversion of CFC based domestic refrigeration system to hydrochlorofluorocarbon based, an environmentally safe substance.
The EPA has further signed contracts with 53 workshops in the country to run the conversion. So far, 1,100 refrigerators have so far been converted from CFC based to HCFC based.
This was disclosed by Emmanuel Osae Quansah, Deputy Director of the EPA in-charge of the National Ozone Unit, at a roundtable discussion to mark United Nations International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer in Accra. The programme was organised by the Free World Foundation with support from the UNDP, GEF Small Grant Programme.
Mr Quansah disclosed that the trained refrigerator technicians had been sensitised to educate people who bring their refrigerators for repairs on why they have to switch from CFC based to HCFC based.
He said because the conversion to HCFC is expensive, the EPA supplements every refrigerator converted with US$7, noting, "This also reduces our dependence on CFC based and improves the country"s compliance with the Montreal Protocol.”
He bemoaned the increasing trend of some unscrupulous refrigerator technicians using adulterated gases, and in some cases, falsely labeled gases such as R22 which is used in air conditioners as HCFC.
He said this practice causes serious damage to refrigerators. According to him, the EPA had seized over 500 cylinders of adulterated or falsely labeled gases. He intimated that although thepractice was common in most workshops in the country, it was very prevalent around Kaneshie and Kokomlemle in Accra.
He advised the public to check the name plate at the back of their refrigerators to know the type of gas that they use. “If they use CFC you can then change them to HCFC,” he added.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of Free World Foundation, Rashid Anyetei Odoi, said the harmful effects of the ozone layer depletion on humans, such as skin cancer, premature aging of the skin, and on marine ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles and on plants are too devastating to be ignored.
In a message to mark the occasion, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon noted that after decades of chemical attacks, it might take another 50 years or so for the ozone layer to recover fully.
He said, “As the Montreal Protocol has taught us, when we degrade our environment too far, nursing it back to health tends to be a long journey, not a quick fix.”
According to him, the overarching lesson of the Protocol is that by acting on one challenge, we also act on many others.
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