Fire crackers are still on sale at various markets in Accra in direct contravention of Executive Instrument (E.I) 21 of 1999 which prohibits the manufacture, possession or carriage of any explosives.

A Ghana News Agency monitoring team spotted some of the explosives at Makola Market, Tudu Market, Tema Station Market, and at the central business district of the capital on Monday.

Some of the explosives on display for sale included fire crackers known as knockouts in different forms and shades.

At the Makola Market traders were reluctant to grant interview to the GNA on the basis that they were the end receivers and not the importers, so to them they were not at fault.

They questioned why the authorities did not ban the importation and purchase of the fire cracker.

A trader who wanted to remain anonymous but was involved in the trade in the products said she was only doing her business to make ends meet and has not heard of such ban because if the product has been banned, it would not have found it place in the country in the first place, expressing worry about the huge loss she will make if they products were banned.

Some consumers said the purchase of fire crackers was a waste of money. They cause serious air pollution, produce a lot of garbage and noise, and are a huge disturbance for children and old people.

To ensure strict compliance with this provision, the police said personnel who would be deployed for special operations during the festive seasons would be tasked to arrest any person or group of persons who acted contrary to the instrument, for prosecution.

In a release issued in Accra recently and signed by the out-going Director-General of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr David Ampah Bennin, said the Service, while entreating prospective importers and dealers in such explosives to refrain from importing and selling them, was also calling on members of the general public to desist from purchasing, possessing or using them.

“Members of the public who are already in possession of these prohibited explosives are therefore advised to deposit them with the police officer in charge of the nearest police station,” the statement said.

It entreated the general public to co-operate with the police for incident-free Christmas festivities.