By Benjamin Akoto, GNA
Asamankese (E/R), Oct. 31, GNA – The Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA), has called on the government to segregate electrical works from civil contracts awarded on government buildings.
The Association believes this would enable regulators to hold electrical contractors responsible for the service they delivered and brought sanity into the profession.
Speaking to the media after a District float at Asamankese as part of activities lined up to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Association, Mr William Adu-Heneku, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the Association, explained that the position of the Association could lead to the electrical works sub-contract being awarded to the right electrical company, since building contractors were not specialists in electrical works.
The anniversary is being celebrated on the theme, « Bringing electricity safely to your house ».
He said no matter the quality of the building, if there was a bad electrical wiring, it affected the whole building and everything could be lost through electrical faults.
Mr Adu-Heneku said the Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2008 which was passed in 2012 was going to be enforced and whoever did not engage a certified electrician will not be allowed a pass to access electricity.
He said the law stipulated that, if an electrician was not certified by the Energy Commission, that person cannot undertake wiring for any building and whoever engages such a person flouted the law and both were liable to charges.
The Asamankese Fire Service Safety Officer, Mr Godwin Miles pleaded with the people to adhere to the safety measures in wiring their house.
He said most of the recent domestic fires were the result of electrical faults and therefore urged the people to employ the services of certified electricians to undertake their wiring services.
As part of the activities some inspectors conducted physical and visual inspection of the Asamankese Police Barracks and the Fire Service Office and the results of the test conducted indicate that the materials use for the wiring were old and substandard.
The Chairman of the Anniversary Committee, Mr John Eli Fofo urged all electricians who had gone through training to avail themselves to be examined, so that they can be certified to enable them contribute to upgrading the standard of electrical services in the country.
The celebration is set to continue to Akyem Tafo, Akropong, Suhum , then the Grand Durbar will take place at Koforidua to create awareness for people to know the importance and dangers involved in using electricity.
The exercise also forms part of a National celebration to ensure that citizens will engage the right professionals to undertake wiring services for them.
