By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Abesim, (B/A), April 13, GNA – The Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA consult), a non-governmental organization has received high commendation for its intensified national campaign to rid of counterfeit electrical products in the Ghanaian market.
Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister lauded such a campaign and rallied the support of other civil society organizations, politicians and the general public to enable the CDA to achieve useful outcomes.
The Regional Minister gave the commendation in a speech read for him at the opening session of a national anti-counterfeit electrical products exposure workshop at Abesim, near Sunyani on Thursday.
Under the theme “avoid patronage of counterfeit electrical products", the three-day workshop is being organized by the CDA in collaboration with the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) and other partners.
In attendance were representatives from the Ghana Police Service, Immigration Service, National Fire Service as well as dealers, customers and owners of electrical shops and the media.
Mr Asomah-Cheremeh said it was unfortunate Ghana was becoming a fertile ground for counterfeit products saying “it is therefore necessary that we all join forces to fight the increase of counterfeit products and also equip electricians and retailers to be able to distinguish between fake and genuine products”.
“The usage of counterfeit electrical products is a major contributor to the rampant fire outbreaks in the country, its usage has a huge negative economic impact on the country as it impedes development, creates huge financial loss to investors and the state as well as lead to loss of lives”, he said.
He called on individuals, groups and all key stakeholders to be watchful and report any issue of counterfeit electrical products to the appropriate agencies such as the District Assemblies, GSA, police and the fire service.
“We should always take the pain to scrutinize labels and packaging, and check authentication of electric products before purchasing”, Mr Asomah-Cheremeh advised.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Kofi Amponsah-Bediako, the Director of Corporate Communication of the GSA, said recently the GSA embarked on a market surveillance of imported brands of electrical cables as well as other brands produced locally and most of the product failed to pass the required test.
“Those that failed are dangerous because they failed the critical safety requirements for conductor resistance. Therefore the time has come for all of us to play our part in ensuring only safe as electrical products are offered for sale to the consumer” he added.
Mr Amponsah-Bediako said the fight against counterfeit electrical products had come to stay assuring that the GSA would continue to collaborate with the CDA consult and all stakeholders to wage war against it in a relentless manner.
Mr Francis Ameyibor, the Executive Director of the CDA consult said the collective roles of the law enforcement agencies and the media in fighting counterfeit electrical products were enormous, and asked the media to intensify public education on the dangers of using the fake products.
The CDA Consult provides tailor made development communication tools necessary for operational transformation and translating dreams into achievable goals and equips clients with mechanism for public education on specific issues.
It also provides effective back-up or frontline monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure value for money delivery of projects, whilst providing clients with skills to deliver timely and accurate information on their activities, work, programmes and projects.
The Consult worked to build responsive working culture for corporate growth through a social process at institutional levels based on dialogue using a broad range of tools and methods.
It also assists client to use continuous and adaptive process of gathering, organizing and formulating information and data and communicate same to policy-makers through various interpersonal and mass media communication channels.
GNA
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