Don’t let uncertified persons wire your buildings -- Energy Commission

From now on, people with wiring needs are supposed to hire not just anybody but certified professionals, says the Energy Commission in a bid to inject sanity into the wiring of buildings.

The commission has issued certificates to 192 home, commercial and industrial wiring professionals who “exceeded the pass mark” among some 449 persons who sat the first certification examinations organised by the commission with the help of the Standards Authority.

Of those who sat the examinations 17% “could not make it”, and so will have to take the examinations again if they wish to qualify, explained Dr. Alfred Ofusu Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary of the commission.

The examiners also decided to give “provisional” certificates to persons who had average passes till the end of February 2015, when they have to re-sit the examinations, he said.

Aside from the certificates, the commission also issued the qualified practitioners with seals and identity card in a bid to weed out charlatans from the wiring profession.

A lot of fire outbreaks across the country are blamed on electrical faults that arise from shoddy wiring by quack practitioners.

Before the commission’s intervention, the Electricity Company of Ghana used to issue the certificates, which many wiring practitioners did not acquire.

“While I congratulate those who made it, let me also wish those who couldn’t better luck next time. Fortunately, we have training institutions which have been set up to train electricians. Going ahead, I believe the examinations will not be shrouded in uncertainties as happened this time,” Mr. Ahenkorah said.

The president of the Electrical Contractors Association, Joseph Walker, thanked the commission for the intervention, saying it will help sanitise the industry.

He however appealed to the commission to further intervene and ensure that the electrical component in building projects is separated from the main contract. That way, he said, the contractor will not cut corners by giving the wiring job to an unqualified person.

“Electrical wiring is a professional work. If you leave it in the hands of the contractor, he might not choose the right person. You cannot go driving without having a driving licence. So this is another way of giving people who know the job a licence to operate,” he said.

By Basiru Adam | B&FT Online | Ghana