The requirement of the Electrical Wiring Regulation Legislative Instrument 2008, to have electrical wiring of buildings done by professionals, comes into force, effective February 24, 2015, the Energy Commission (EC) has announced.
The objective of the Instrument is to sensitise electrical wiring professionals, infuse a high level of professionalism to protect lives and property, and help eliminate quacks in the industry. The law requires that only certified professional electricians do wiring with approved materials to conform to the code of wiring under the Ghanaian electrical wiring standards GS1009.
The Public Relations Officer of the Commission, Mr. Victor Owusu Jnr., has told The Chronicle in Kumasi that no electrical engineer would be engaged in the wiring of buildings after the February 24 deadline. According to him, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) would not connect electricity to any building that has not been wired by a professional electrician.
In an event that the ECG connects electricity to any such buildings, the Energy Commission, by law, would hold the District Engineer and Technical officer of the ECG for not meeting the requirement of the law. Mr. Owusu said to ensure the effective implementation of the requirements of the law, Certified Electrical Wiring Inspectors (CEWIs) would be mandated to inspect work by Certified Electrical Professionals (CEWPs), before the EC recommends that electricity connected to a building.
He also explained that the law requires that buildings are audited to ensure the rewiring of buildings wired 10 years ago. Mr. Victor Owusu further indicated the EC would, over time, organise periodic training sessions for the certified electrical writing professionals after their certification to sharpen their skills and knowledge to meet the objectives and requirements of the law.
PRO Owusu appealed to the members of the public to take advantage of the provisions of the law, and engage the services of professionals to do their wiring.
Towards this end, the Energy Commission has, since last year, collaborated with the Technical Unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to conduct Electrical Wiring Practical Assessment Examination for electrical wiring professionals. A total of 330 electricians were examined for certification last year, while about 457 are being examined nationwide this year.
One and hundred and six of these electrical wiring professionals are writing the practical exams at the Kumasi Technical Institute, under the supervision of Mr. Solomon Sarpong, Lead and Senior Programmes Officer of the Energy Commission, and Mr. A. K. Gyimah, Chief Examiner in charge of the Northern Sector. They were tested in practicals, theory, and interviews to assess their competence on the job.
Source: The Chronicle
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