Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - Ghana has received a Certificate of recognition and commendation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for ratifying the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocols, which seek to protect the ozone layer from destruction.

A statement signed in Accra by Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister of Environment Science and Technology, said the sector Minister, Ms Sherry Ayittey received the Certificate at the 21st Meeting of the 169 Parties to the Montreal Protocol ion Egypt two weeks ago.

Mr Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Director, signed the Certificate Receiving the certificate Ms Ayittey said Ghana desired that the spirit of global cooperation would be maintained for the benefit of mankind and the protection of the environment.

She said even though Ghana did not use a lot of ozone depleting substances, the Government had already taken bold steps to control imports by imposing regulatory measures to ensure that the quantum of substances imported was consistent to the Protocol. Such measures included regulating the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in refrigeration.

"End-user cold storage facilities have successfully converted from CFC based systems to non-CFC alternatives because of the multilateral improved projects implemented by the United Nations Development Programme," she said. Ms Ayittey said through the coordinated monitoring programmes on the local market a number of mislabelled and contaminated refrigerators had been intercepted and detained so that such materials could not be used in any particular refrigeration system.

She said Ghana had braced herself up to fully implement the high CFC freeze by 2013 as well as subsequent reduction steps and noted that a national survey had already been conducted. The Minister commended the assessment panel for their commitment to the task of providing direction and insight into critical issues to developing countries to overcome diverse challenges in meeting their commitment under the Protocol.

CFC is a halogenated chemical used in the manufacturing of refrigerators. Its high content in refrigerators is injurious to the earth.