Tema (Greater Accra) 28 Oct.'98 The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has confiscated 51 cars which were imported into the country in contravention of the ban on vehicles which are 10 years old. The vehicles have not yet been sent to steel companies for destruction due to petitions filed by their owners. Mr Robert Kwami, Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in charge of Tema, explained that under act 552 of 1998 vehicles over 10 years old have been banned and enough notices were given to the public. He told the parliamentary select committee on finance during a visit to the port that most of the petitioners were confusing the date of registration of the vehicles with the date of manufacture. He said under the law it is not the date of first registration of the vehicle in the country of origin which matters but the date of manufacturie.

Mr Kwami said due to the implementation of the law which took effect from this year, congestion of cars at the port has been drastically reduced. Importers in the past had to pay huge penalties for over-aged vehicles which compelled them to leave their vehicles in the port for long periods. At present about 150 to 200 cars are cleared from the port daily. In September this year alone over 3,300 cars were cleared. Act 552 which was an amendment to PNDC law 330 removed the penalty on over-aged cars and replaced it with confiscation for destruction. It also reduced the number of days that a car can stay in the port from 120 to 60 days.