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Effective February 25, 2015, the Electrical Wiring Regulation Legislative Instrument 2008 which requires that electrical wiring of buildings are done by only certified professional electricians will
come into force.

Under the law only certified professional electricians will be mandated to do wiring with approved materials to conform to code of wiring under the Ghanaian electrical wiring standards GS1009.

The Public Affairs Manager of the Energy Commission, Mr. Victor Owusu, reiterated the position of the EC on the law at the third of a series of presentation of certificates to about 400 certified electricians drawn from the Northern sector having successfully passed the November December 2014 Electrical Wiring Practical Assessment Examination for electrical wiring professionals.

The Energy Commission has since 2013 collaborated with the Technical Unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to conduct Electrical Wiring Practical Assessment Examination for electrical wiring professionals.

Mr. Owusu announced that a total of 1,561 personnel have been certified since 2013 to meet the requirements of the Legislative Instrument which seeks to sensitize electrical wiring  professionals and infusing high level of professionalism to protect  lives and property and also to help eliminate quacks in the industry.

According to him, 952 out of the 1,091 persons who sat for the November/December 2014 Electrical Wiring Practical Assessment Examination for electrical wiring professionals were successful. He said in the November/December 2013 exams 165 out of 677 passed while 464 out of 564 passed in the May/June 2014 exams making a total of 1,091 successful candidates for the three batches since 2013.

He emphasized that effective February 25 no electrical engineer would be engaged in wiring of buildings and that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) would not connect electricity to any building that has not been wired by a professional electrician.

The Public Affairs Manager also said that any landlord who engaged an unqualified electrician in wiring of a building would be reliable to a fine of not less than GHc6, 000.00 or serve a 24-month term of imprisonment or both. He also stressed that in an event that that the ECG connects electricity to any such buildings wired by an unqualified electrician, 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 is 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 organize period 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.

The training programmes would also serve as a basis for promotion for the certified electrical practitioners. Public Affairs Manager Owusu reminded the public about the difference between a Certified Electrical Wiring Professional (CEWP) and an ordinary electrician who is not recognized by L. I. 2008 and appealed to members of the public to take advantage of the provisions of the law and engage services of professionals to do their wiring.

Mr. Solomon Sarpong, the Lead and Senior Programms officer of the Energy Commission congratulated the CEWs and urged them to work as professionals.