Only certified professionals can perform electrical installations as Energy Commission starts earnest enforcement
A new Legislative Instrument of the Energy Commission is to make it mandatory for only certified professionals to perform electrical installations or works of any kind in all industries.
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The measure is to sanitise the system, weeding out quack electrical technicians and reducing some of the fatal incidents at home and factories that are linked to poor electrical wiring.
This came to light during a day’s sensitisation seminar in Tarkwa to educate stakeholders on various best practices in wiring and cable selection.
Organised by local cable manufacturer, Tropical Cable and Conductor Ltd, the annual seminars form part of the social investment project of the company to sensitise the public to the proper use of electrical cables and the dangers associated with using inferior and sub-standard ones.
It is also to help curtail the electricity-related fire incidents, which has become rampant in the country in recent times.
A resource person, Elder Appiagyei Kwame Torto, who took the participants through the new wiring regulations and the mandate of the Energy Commission in the energy sector, emphasised the need for the public to engage the services of professional electrical engineers and technicians for works, however the magnitude.
Regulation (LI 2008i) started implementation in 2012. However, the Energy Commission started a nationwide enforcement of the regulation on March 15 this year.
Elder Torto also took participants through alternative cable selections and stressed the need for advised individuals and companies to inspect electrical works after their performance.
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Having elaborated on the processes involved in such inspections, engineer Torto said it was necessary to prevent any adverse effects of negligence, adding they may lead to electrical fires.
Alternative cable selection involves using a cable of an accepted different size or type for a job for which similar function can be performed. For example using, NAYPE 2x25 (aluminium cable) for service lines to a household instead of NCYA 16 RS (copper cable).
Historical perspective
The Marketing and Business Development Manager of TCCL, Nana Kwame Oteng-Gyasi, recounted the history of TCCL, emphasising how it had expanded tremendously after it had perfected the art of producing quality cables and conductors for use in Ghana and the West African sub-region.
He said the company had also contributed significantly to deepening the power sector and had supported electricians and electrical contractors who promote locally manufactured cables.
The Sales Engineer of TCCL, Mr Michael S. N. A. Abbey, shed light on the range of products the company offered, linking the products to their practical applications, while elaborating the technical advantages of using TCCL-manufactured cables.
Some of the other cables include aluminium overhead lines, copper overhead lines, single and multicore armored and unarmored cables, mining cables, telecommunication cables and specialised (Made to Spec) cables. The company also produces sockets and switches.
ID cards
Besides the company branded T-shirts and certificates presented to all the participants, the company also presented special identity cards to Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals (CEWP).
The ID cards are to be used as attestation and for purchasing cables from any official sales outlets of TCCL.
At the seminar
The TCCL sensitisation campaign will move round some selected towns across the country to educate stakeholders on various best practices in wiring and cable selection to help curtail the electricity-related fire incidents in the country.
This year's campaign which began at Tarkwa is based on TCCL’s findings that causes of electrical fires may not only result from the use of inferior electrical products, but also the lack of professional know-how of the electrical personnel performing the installation work.
About 200 participants, including representatives from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), independent electricians and electrical engineers, the Takoradi Polytechnic, the Chambers of Commerce and Mines as well as mining companies, attended the seminar in Tarkwa in the Western Region. — GB