Energy Commission urged to adhere to electrical certification guidelines
The Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA), has urged the Energy Commission to implement the certification of electrical contractors with strict adherence to the guidelines.
Anything short of that would undermine the purpose of the certification and be a recipe for chaos, the Association said.
Mr Jasper Amudzi, Volta Regional Chairman of the Association, gave the advice at the sidelines of a day’s sensitization seminar to members of the Association in the Volta Region in Ho on “Ghana Electrical Wiring Certification Guidelines.”
Under the certification guidelines, a unique code would be given to all licensed electrical technicians, so they could be traced for works done for recommendations or sanctions.
The guidelines state that only persons licensed by the Commission would be allowed to operate in the country from February 2015.
Members are required to write written and practical examinations to be certified by the Energy Commission.
Mr Amudzi said members in the Region welcomed the initiative and prayed for its successful implementation to bring professionalism into the sector.
He said the certification guidelines were timely and could help reduce the incidence of fire disasters in the country.
Nii Adolf Ashong, Technical Regulation Officer of the Energy Commission said the main aim for the certification guidelines was to sanitize the sector and enhance standards.
He noted that about 90 per cent of fire disasters recorded in the country were caused by electrical faults and stated the Commission’s resolve to “streamline the profession.”
Mr Franklin Philip Masiku, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Volta region, said the country recorded a total of 598 fires in the year 2012.
He said between January and May 2013, a total of 447 fires were recorded nationwide with the Volta Region registering 75 incidents, 10 of which were due to electrical faults.
He was hopeful the certification of electrical contractors, would reduce the incidence of fire in the country.
Source: GNA