Electrical professionals urged to commit to safety standards

…… by using only GSA-certified cables and accessories

By Samuel SAM

In a bid to curb fire outbreaks, enhancing local manufacturing industries and ensuring the welfare of citizens, the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) is creating awareness with a call on electrical professionals to commit to safety standards by using only GSA-certified cables and accessories to prevent accidents.

Electrical professionals need to embrace the profession with utmost commitment to electrical safety and professionalism devoid of inferior materials that undermine the integrity of installations and endanger lives.

Also, using inferior or substandard electrical products, such as low-quality wiring, cables, outlets, circuit breakers or panels, in building construction or maintenance can lead to severe safety, financial and operational issues and, therefore, the need for the public to also engage the services of certified electricians for all work.

These products often fail to meet safety standards, resulting in compromised electrical systems as well as short circuits, leading to fires that damage property and endanger lives.

The forum, dubbed ‘Electro-Vigillance’, brought together stakeholders from the electronic value chain such as electronic dealers, certified electricians, contactors, students, security agencies and persons from academia; and was aimed at sensitising the general public against patronage of inferior electrical products at the market.

Speaking at the forum held in Tamale, Senior Officer at the Energy Commission Northern Sector, John Nilimor Bukari, said poor-quality products lack proper grounding or insulation, increasing the likelihood of leakage currents that cause shocks or even fatal electrocution.

“In older or poorly maintained buildings, frayed wires from substandard materials heighten this risk for occupants and workers; and therefore, the need for quality standards in the electrical industry.

“The enforcement of the Electrical Wiring Cables and Electrical Wiring Accessories Regulations, 2023 (LI 2478) mandates only GSA to certify products imported, manufactured or sold to prevent hazards like fires and electrocutions,” he said.

He called on manufacturers, importers, electricians and consumers to prioritise certified products.

Furthermore, Senior Scientific Officer at GSA, Ing. Francis Akpaloo, said inferior cables are prone to melting or igniting surrounding materials; hence, the commitment of GSA in collaboration with Energy Commission and other partners in educating the public against the patronage of sub-standard cables.

According to him, sub-standard cables do not have the requisite labels and very cheap on the market.

The influx of such products on the market poses threats to consumers; and therefore, the need for all to avoid purchasing products not approved by Ghana Standard Authority. “When you have the labels on the products, it is an authentication that the products have gone through various stages of quality test under GSA. But if you are buying and you don’t see this label. The first impression is that the product is a substandard one, fake one or it has not gone through the GSA system of verification,” he said.

He entreated consumers to patronise electrical products that are labelled by Ghana Standard Authority, insisting that products without labels are either substandard or fake ones.

He also called on the public to report suspected substandard products via the Energy Commission’s hotline or app.

Northern Regional Manager of GSA, Mr. Basin Alhassan, said GSA, in collaboration with Energy Commission, will embark on a surveillance exercise in the markets to get rid of inferior electrical products.

“We are going to have collaboration with the Energy Commission; we are going to have a series of surveillance to make sure that we wane off our markets of these substandard electrical cables”, he said.

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