Ghana’s technical regulator for electricity and natural gas, Energy Commission, has set June 2025 for a nationwide implementation of the Electrical Wiring Cables and Electrical Wiring Accessories Regulations, LI 2478.
LI 2478 was passed into law by Ghana’s Parliament during the fourth quarter of 2023, and it is expected to ensure that only quality and approved electrical wiring cables and accessories are used in both households and public buildings.
As part of the implementation processes, the Energy Commission was required to develop guidelines for LI 2478 for its smooth implementation.
On Friday, September 13, 2024, the Commission held a stakeholders engagement to give stakeholders an opportunity to make an input into the guidelines.
The attendees included members of Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Ghana Electrical Dealers Association, Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), Environmental Protection Agency and Ghana Revenue Authority.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Stephen Yomoh, who is the Project Co-ordinator, recalled that the Electrical Wiring Regulations, LI 2008 which was passed in 2011 had been implemented successfully; however, there was a big gap in that law because regulation 4 only talks about certified practitioners or electricians using materials that have been approved by GSA.
He said LI 2008 does not talk about the importation or the production of materials that have been approved by GSA and, therefore, there was a need to come up with another regulation that sought to regulate the importation of electrical wiring materials.
He highlighted the steps the Commission would be undertaking ahead of the full implementation of LI 2478.
He said from January 2025, the Commission would commence sensitisation and public awareness about electrical wiring cables and electrical accessories, register all importers and manufacturers, as well as issue conformance certificate or certificate of conformance.
He said this would be followed by the selection of few areas for piloting in March 2025.
“Following the passage of that law, a guideline had to be developed to establish the implementation process and that is why we have gathered here together with stakeholders for their inputs on how we are going to implement the enforcement of the Electrical Wiring Cables, Electrical Wiring Accessories Regulations, LI 2478,” he stated.
He said the Commission would deploy a testing van to markets where electrical cables are sold and conduct on-the-spot test to ascertain whether the cables and electrical accessories meet the standard.
Touching on the penalty that would be applied, he said unlike LI 2008, which only prescribed maximum penalty, LI 2478 prescribed both minimum and maximum penalty to those who flout the law.
He said if after testing of the products it proved to be substandard, they would be withdrawn from the market, re-exported or destroyed.
Awal Sakib Mohammed, President of Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA), said his outfit fully supports the Commission in its effort to rid the market of substandard electrical wiring cables and accessories.
Asked whether June 2025, which the Commission has set for a nationwide rollout was enough time, Mr Awal Mohammed said if there is a better time for electrical safety, then it is nothing better than now.
“If you’re on retirement and (God forbid) your building is razed down by fire…how are you going to sustain it?…So for us we are happy and we encourage everybody to support the implementation so that we can have safer electrical installations in Ghana,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com