Mr John Jinapor, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, has welcomed a proposal from the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA) for the government to consider a policy requiring only certified electrical contractors to undertake electrical works in construction projects nationwide.
The proposal was tabled when the leadership of GECA met the Minister at the Ministry in Accra to discuss challenges confronting the electrical industry and explore collaborative solutions.
GECA argued that the move was critical to enhancing safety, reliability, and compliance with professional standards in the delivery of electrical services, particularly in the wake of increasing cases of fire outbreaks and poor installations.
The Association expressed concern over the prevailing procurement practice where electrical contracts are lumped together with building contracts, a situation, they said, undermined industry standards and compromised safety, efficiency, and value for money.
GECA further noted that some contractors undertaking electrification projects under the Ministry lacked the necessary capacity and expertise, resulting in abandoned works and the theft of materials.
To address this, Mr Awal Sakib Mohamed, President of GECA, proposed a partnership with the Ministry to screen and validate contractors and provide capacity-building training at the ECG Training School.
“This, we believe, will help produce capable and competent contractors, improving system reliability
and reducing technical losses,” he stated.
The meeting also deliberated on the need for reliable, quality and affordable power supply to support the government’s 24-hour economy initiative.
“Additionally, we want to emphasise the need for a policy on rechargeable jobs to alleviate the financial burden on businesses requiring electricity connections and dedicated transformers,” the Association appealed.
In response, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition tasked a team at the Ministry to develop a roadmap to address the concerns raised by GECA, noting that effective implementation of such a policy could save lives and protect property from electrical hazards caused by poor wiring and substandard materials.
He said the Ministry would continue to collaborate with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the Energy Commission and GECA to strengthen regulation and improve industry standards.
Mr Jinapor assured the Association of government’s commitment to ensuring electrical safety for all, saying: “I want to thank the leadership of GECA for the recognition. Together, we can build a safer and more efficient electrical industry for all.”
