Prohibition on importing second-hand vehicles: Benin and Côte d'Ivoire on Ghana's track, Togo on the sidelines

For how long will Togo remain the trash of old used vehicles and household appliances imported from the West? In any case, elsewhere, in the sub-region, one becomes aware. Provisions have even been made by the governments of Togo's neighboring countries to combat the phenomenon.


 In Côte d'Ivoire, the authorities have taken measures to limit the age of vehicles to be imported into their territory. In the Council of Ministers, on Wednesday, December 6th, two decrees concerning the import and operation of vehicles on the national territory were adopted. The age of importation of personal vehicles and taxi-type public transport is set at five years. 07 years is the age required for minicars from 9 to 34 seats and vans up to 5 tons. Now buses with more than 34 seats can not exceed 10 years, as can trucks with 5 seats. "With regard to the operating periods for vehicles used for the public or private transport of persons or goods, those used vehicles used for taxis shall not exceed 7 years. Minicars with 9 to 34 seats and vans of up to 5 tonnes are limited to 10 years of operation. Trucks with more than 5 seats will now be limited to 20 years. Lastly, used cars with more than 34 seats will have a maximum operating time of 15 years, "informs the information website koaci.com.

"It is important to specify that a transitional period of 3 months is granted before the entry into force of the decree limiting the age of import of vehicles. As for vehicles already in circulation assigned to the public or private transport of persons or goods, they have 10 years of transport authorization, in order to enable them to comply with the new regulations. The texts also highlight support measures in the sense of giving incentives to newly established transport companies for the purchase of new vehicles. To this end, the government will soon introduce a scrappage bonus for private individuals and transport companies ". This was stated by the Ivorian Minister Amadou Koné of Transport,

With this regulation, Côte d'Ivoire has just followed suit in Benin, which has also taken steps to curb the danger of air pollution, and in turn the diseases related to the exhaust gases of these vehicles. opportunity that have reached their age limits in Europe and are being dumped on African "black" markets. Last November, the Beninese government, taking measures to purify its skies, banned second-hand vehicles on its soil which, according to him, constitute sources of pollution and diseases. In this perspective, until 31 December at the latest, the Finance Act provides for the exemption of duties, customs taxes and VAT (value-added tax) on buses, coaches and minibuses of all categories, imported

In Ghana, this decision was taken a long time ago. But as generally in the tropics, obviously, we do not seem to care. And yet. According to studies, these cars imported without any technical control would remain for the countries where they land a threat to the health security of the populations. The pollution they cause would lead to lung infections.

In Togo, the situation is as alarming as elsewhere. But everything suggests that the authorities are not their first concern. While around them, things move. In the country, the markets for the sale of these "last-hand" vehicles are on the rise. Consciousness awakens to make regulations to save not only the environment, but also to ensure road safety and well-being for the people. On the "Land of our ancestors", these machines continue to clutter garages, streets and pollute the air. Meanwhile, at the Autonomous Port of Lome, the "damaged" vehicles line up. In its car fleets, there are these machines that have been abandoned for a long time, in a deleterious state without any serious measure being taken to unclog the premises. According to sources, these old vehicles, for the most part declared "abandonment", are sold at low prices. On the roads, especially at rush hour, it is these vehicles at the end of the cycle put into circulation that emit suffocating gases harmful to health.

While waiting for Togo to take inspiration from its neighbors, it is important that this phenomenon of anarchic importation of used vehicles be approached as a community problem. And at a higher level, the Heads of State and Government of the space or even the continent, would do better to get more involved in the fight against this evil. Like what, Africa is not the garbage of the West where we just pour everything.