Sunyani, Feb. 02, GNA - Some traders of second-hand goods at the Nan= a Bosoma Market on Wednesday suggested that instead of the total ban of some items, there should rather be a strict inspection before the items are released.

"The ban on second-hand goods is really going to bring hardships to us and our families since the trade is our only source of livelihood," said a female trader who spoke on condition of anonymity. The traders made the appeal when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) sought their views on the recent ban of some second-hand goods including underwear= , handkerchiefs and mattresses into the country with effect February next year. Some said that a ban on underwear for instance would be in the right direction 93since most of them are unhygienic." Kwaku Asare, another trader, said the items they traded were usually disinfected and did not think buyers would be exposed to any health hazard. Some buyers at the market told the GNA that they could not afford the luxury of new clothes and that the second-hand items helped a lot as that made them save money for other purposes.

Ms Dorothy Peprah, a civil servant said the ban on underwear would save most people, especially women, from infections. Some traders also said that some people preferred second-hand clothing because of their good quality as compared to those sold in the stores some of which were of low quality.