RISK AND BENEFITS OF SECONDHAND GOODS IN GHANA-ACCRA

However, the used of secondhand goods has a lot of risks and benefits. According to the Ghana standard board, use pants, and other secondhand goods like handkerchiefs and mattresses are unhygienic and could poses a health hazard. Market traders in Ghana will be banned from selling second-hand underwear from next February, trade regulators say,

Some of the used items sometimes look stained and dirty and could cause a lot of sickness to a person who does not wash them before used. Meanwhile, it is also helpful and economical to our society because it enables those who do not have money for the brand new ones to purchase some of the used items. It also offers a lot of trading activity to many people in the society who do not have any other job to do. And also it serves a source of income to cater for one’s family.

USED FURNITURE/CHAIRS AND MATRESSES IN THE MARKET

There are a lot of used goods in the market that are less expensive compared to the brand new ones.

Used goods like clothing, shoes, cosmetics mattresses, toys, underwear and more are cheaper but in the case of furniture,chairs and mattresses  it isn’t like that because they are considered as quality or durable even more-than some of  the new ones.(they last for long time) So sometimes their prices are the same or you can get some new ones that are expensive than the used once depending on the looks of the used ones, if it does not look nice it will be sell less than when it still look good.

However, most offices and homes preferred the used furniture,chairs and mattresses to the brand new ones in our local community businesses .they include hairdressing salons,barbering salons stores ,schools, boarding houses,hotels,restaurants and even banks .They can be bargain for a cheap price.

SECONDHAND GOODS THAT NEED A LICENSE TO SELL.

Prescribe secondhand goods are

Those that are at high risk of theft.

A license is required when a trader deals with the following:

Items of Jewelers

Gemstones and precious metals

Sporting and recreational goods

Musical instruments

Photographic equipment

Microwave goods and

Computer software and interactive games consoles.

 Compact disc

Tools kits and car accessories

Mobile phones and Global positioning system equipment.

THOSE THAT DO NOT NEED A LICENSE TO SELL.

The following goods are not prescribed second-hand goods for the purposes of the Act and a license is not required when buying or selling them.

Motorized wheelchairs, wheeled lounge, spinal carriages and other goods designed to carry people with a disability. Industrial machinery or farming machinery that cannot be driven or is not portable.

USED TYRES AND CARS IN GHANA – ACCRA

Used tires and cars are imported from Germany. They are sold to individuals and retailers and also wholesalers.

 A manager of secondhand tire shop in Accra has explained that, used tires are imported from countries like Germany Japan and China.

He says, use tires are quality and good for vehicles and are not harmful or dangerous for used.

Used cars , as people think that it a cause for accidents  in this country, he says, tires are not the cause for accidents, it has no effect for our cars but accidents is caused by the individual himself.

He said there are some countries that have quality tires but most Ghanians can’t afford to buy them because it is expensive so they import others that are less expensive or affordable from other countries.

INTERESTINGLY,

Used cars are transported to Ghana and can be arranged at affordable rates. The cars will be transported in a fully secured car transport vehicle and delivered to the port.Even if one buys a brand new car and used for some time before selling it to another user it becomes a secondhand car.The bigger  secondhand trading cities for cars in Ghana include Accra, Kumasi and Second i-Takoradi.It is very necessary for one to be very careful and investigative when buying a car,just to make sure that you buy a correct car which will not give you problems after buying them.One need to also check the registration number to make sure you obtain a registered one to avoid the police interference.

WHERE TO FINE SECOND-HAND GOODS IN ACCRA-Ghana

Accra is the largest city and the capital in Ghana with population of four mill people.It's also a place where most people in the rural areas goes to find jobs.

Second-hand goods trading has helped many Ghanians to get something doing in other to earn a living. there are many places in Accra with shops and markets areas for the selling of second-hand goods which i can't mention all now.

some of which including, the cantonments road or Osu street vendors, where you can also get everything you want. there are a lot of traders and young salesmen.

The main street going through the area called Osu is a good place you can bargain on a price of goods. Here you will see a lot of used clothing, shoes, books, underwear's, bags and many many more to mention but a few.

Other areas include, Kaneshie, Circle, the George Bush highway (A1) and Kasoa road

WHERE DO GHANAIANS OBTAIN SECONDHAND GOODS

According to sources, second-hand goods are imported from overseas:
Japan, Spain, Italy, Germany. According to the  BBC news on-line,used goods and sometimes damaged equipments  from UK banks, hospitals, and local councils to Ghana. 

Clothes donated by Charity groups abroad find their way into the local markets and are sold for profit. Most Ghanaians depend on second-hand items which they sell at good prices.

There are many respectable civil servants in Ghana today who go to work in beautiful second-hand shoes and clothing. So if all these beautiful are trading on them then why that ban of it? and what do we say about those who can't afford the brand new prices?


 

HOW THEY ARE IMPORTED TO THE COUNTRY GHANA

Secondhand clothing classifies as mandatory by the ministry of trade and industry. The Ghana ports and Harbors Authority is the the governance                   maintenance and operation of the ports of   Ghana.Takoradi and Tema Harbor , ports manufacturing centers and handles cargo transport shipment to and from bordering countries of Ghana.

And the Golden Jubilee Terminal is a recently opened facility of the Tema port. One need to complete the export declaration and transport documents. For one to transport his goods, to the country,he must provide a full description of the goods, including value, quantity and weight  copies of the export invoice, packaging list and technical details of the goods.

Governments require some used goods to be sold through regulated markets as in the case of items which have safety and legal issues such as used fire arms or cars for these items; government licensing bodies require certification and registration of the sale, to prevent the sale of stolen, unregistered, or unsafe goods. As well, for some high-value used goods, such as cars and motorcycles, governments regulate used sales to ensure that the government gets its sales tax revenue from the sale.

Clothing, toys, cosmetics and more. Secondhand clothing classified as mandatory by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The Ghana ports and Harbors Authority of Ghana (GPHA) is the national port authority of Ghana responsible for the governance, maintenance and operation of the ports of Ghana.