NCA Wants Electronic Gadgets Approved

Albert Enniful, Deputy Director General of NCA speaking at the workshop.

Consumers, traders and manufacturers of electronic gadgets have been urged to declare gadgets they import into the country at the various entry points.

According to the National Communications Authority (NCA), failure to do so 'would invite punitive actions.'

The NCA said it would work with customs officials, the police and other security agencies to ensure that the mandate was respected.

The Deputy Director-General of NCA, Albert Enniful, who made this known in Accra at a public sensitization workshop on type approval and dealership licensing, indicated that the overall objective of the new type approval regime was to improve and streamline the existing type approval procedure.

According to him, the new regime would grant stakeholders access to the database of licensed dealers of communications equipment.

Furthermore, he said the new regime would introduce stakeholders to the new interactive application portal that would facilitate their application process.

'Under this new type approval regime, type approval certificate will be granted to a product that meets a minimum set of regulatory, technical and safety requirements,' the Deputy Director General of NCA indicated.

The type approval, he stated, was supported by legal backing as enshrined in the Electronic Communications Act of 2008, adding that 'Section 6(n) of the Electronic Communications Act of 2008, Act 775 empowers the NCA to certify and ensure the testing of communications equipment for compliance with international standards, environmental health and safety standards including electromagnetic radiation and emissions.

Isaac Boateng stated that 'we are seeking to do the right thing in our market and therefore we are making it mandatory.

'All consumers of electronic gadgets and equipment are to enquire from their manufacturers or dealers whether their products were type approved before purchasing them.'

Mr. Boateng called on all dealers to acquire a dealership certificate from the NCA before starting their businesses.

BY Melvin Tarlue