<<Print>>

With effect from February 25, 2015, newly built structures that are not wired by certified electrical wiring professionals (CEWPs) will not be connected to the national grid.

The Electrical Wiring Regulations, 2011 (LI 2008) come into force on February 25, 2015.

The Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Dr Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, who made this known in Accra yesterday, said offenders of the regulations would be dealt with according to the law.

At a graduation ceremony for new CEWPs, he said the commission was collaborating with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and other service providers to ensure the full implementation of the law.

Background
The Electrical Wiring Regulations, 2011 (LI 2008) was passed by Parliament on February 24, 2012.

The key objectives of the regulations are to guide professionals who engage in electrical wiring and installation works in the performance of their duties and to ensure safety of lives and property.

The regulations specifically provide for issues related to who qualifies to undertake electrical wiring in the country.

Regulation 7 says: “A person shall not undertake electrical wiring on premises unless that person is certified by (a) a licensed electricity distribution utility; or (b) a recognised person appointed by the Energy Commission.”

The regulations come into force after a two-year transition period. 

Essence of certification
Electrical wiring in Ghana has travelled decades along a rugged path in what experts describe as undesirable practices, until 2005 when the need to regulate the system became a paramount concern to the government.

The passage of the regulations was, therefore, meant to inject sanity into the undesirable electrical wiring system in the country.

Since the passage of the law, the Energy Commission has organised three certification examinations in November 2013, June 2014 and November/December 2014.

The examinations are in three categories: industrial wiring, commercial wiring and domestic wiring.

The third batch of 943 candidates who passed the November/December 2014 examination was presented with certificates at yesterday’s ceremony, qualifying them as CEWPs.

Other candidates who qualified as certified electrical wiring inspectors (CEWI) were also awarded certificates.

Awards
The overall best candidate in industrial wiring went to Mr Francis Amoah, while the best candidate in commercial wiring went to Amos Osei Owusu, with William Kojo Appiah winning the prize for domestic wiring.

A special award was given to Tropical Cables and Conductors Limited (TCCL) for its immense support towards the development of electrical wiring regulations.

Dr Ahenkorah expressed the hope that more candidates would pass the examinations in subsequent years.

He said it was unfortunate to find many sub-standard electrical wires on the local market, adding, “If a copper wire could be pulled by a magnet, then we are in trouble.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The Finance and Administrative Director of TCCL, Mr Theophilus V.A. Mensah, said there was a difference between an academic certificate and a professional certificate.

He, therefore, urged the CEWPs to appreciate the difference and exhibit high standards of professionalism in the discharge of their duties, adding that they should not submit to the dictates of their customers.
f