Energy Commission urges electricians to upgrade skills as solar, EVs reshape industry

The Energy Commission has urged electricians across Ghana to continuously upgrade their skills as the country’s electrical industry evolves with the growing adoption of solar power, battery storage systems and electric vehicles.

The call was made at the 25th Electrical Wiring Awards Ceremony held in Kumasi on Tuesday under the theme “Setting the Standard: Powering Ghana’s Future – EV, Solar, and Beyond.”

Speaking on behalf of the Acting Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Manager for Electricity and Natural Gas Regulation, Adolf Nii Ashong, said the latest Electrical Wiring Certification Examination had recorded a strong performance.

He disclosed that 1,036 candidates participated in the May/June 2026 certification examination, with 884 candidates successfully passing, representing an 85 percent pass rate.

Five women were among those who passed the examination, a development Mr Ashong described as encouraging given the traditionally male-dominated nature of the electrical wiring profession.

At the KTI Examination Centre in Kumasi, 217 of the 244 candidates who took the examination passed, recording an 89 percent pass rate.

Mr Ashong said the successful candidates had demonstrated their ability to acquire the technical knowledge and practical skills required to undertake safe electrical installations.

Certification comes with responsibility

The Energy Commission official reminded the newly certified electricians that certification should not be regarded merely as an academic accomplishment but as the beginning of a professional responsibility to safeguard lives and property.

He said the Commission’s mandate under the Electrical Wiring Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 2008) was guided by the principle that no life should be lost and no property destroyed as a result of faulty electrical wiring.

He therefore urged the electricians to uphold professional standards and avoid compromising safety in their work.

“Do not compromise on standards,” was among the key messages delivered to the newly certified electricians.

The Commission also cautioned practitioners against using inferior materials to meet the demands of clients seeking cheaper services.

They were further warned not to allow their certificates to be used by individuals who had not undergone the required certification process.

Solar and EV technology changing the profession

Mr Ashong said developments in renewable energy were transforming the electrical profession and creating the need for practitioners to acquire new competencies.

He noted that solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage technologies were becoming increasingly common in homes, businesses and other institutions.

According to him, the revised GS 1009 standard sets out specific requirements for renewable energy systems, energy storage and their safe integration into electrical installations.

He disclosed that the Energy Commission was also developing a new syllabus for future certification examinations to ensure that electricians were equipped to meet the changing demands of the industry.

On electric vehicles, Mr Ashong said the Commission had prepared draft Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Regulations, which were currently before Parliament.

He explained that the anticipated expansion of EV charging infrastructure would create new opportunities for electricians who possessed the required expertise in areas such as electrical loads, earthing, protection and safety.

“The industry is changing, and practitioners must change with it,” he emphasised.

More than 20,000 electricians certified

Speaking separately to the media, Kwadwo Ebenezer Asaam, Ashanti Regional Officer in Charge of Inspection and Enforcement at the Energy Commission, said the awards ceremony represented an important milestone for the successful candidates.

He said the Commission remained committed to ensuring that electricians operating in Ghana were properly assessed and certified to undertake electrical wiring work.

Mr Asaam disclosed that more than 20,000 electricians had so far been certified nationwide.

He said the growing number of certified practitioners was important to improving the safety of electrical installations and reducing the risks faced by consumers.

He consequently encouraged electricians who had not yet obtained certification to register for the relevant examinations and obtain the required professional credentials.