GSA Tamale office equipped with cable testing machine to detect substandard cables

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has equipped its Tamale office with cable testing machines to help identify substandard electrical cables and improve safety in electrical installations.

Basim Alhassan, Northern Regional Manager of the GSA, announced this at the 25th Electrical Wiring Certification Awards Ceremony in Tamale, which saw 181 professionals graduate after completing the certification process organised by the Ghana Energy Commission.

Speaking as the guest speaker, Mr Alhassan said the equipment would enable the Authority to test electrical cables and help stakeholders verify their quality rather than relying solely on their appearance or claims by suppliers.

He disclosed that cable testing under the Electrovigilance Project was being piloted in the Ashanti and Volta Regions ahead of a planned nationwide rollout.

Mr Alhassan encouraged electrical professionals, contractors and other stakeholders in Northern Ghana to engage the GSA and the Energy Commission whenever they have concerns about the quality of electrical cables.

He stressed that the use of substandard cables could undermine the safety of an entire electrical installation, even where the system had been properly designed and installed.

“An electrical installation can be well designed and properly installed, but if the cables and accessories are of poor quality or do not meet the required standards, the safety of the entire installation fails,” he said.

Mr Alhassan urged the public to purchase electrical cables from reputable suppliers and ensure that the products were properly certified and marked in accordance with approved standards.

He also called on electricians to avoid compromising safety and quality in an attempt to reduce installation costs, warning that the consequences of using inferior materials could be costly.

The GSA official said the development and revision of GS 1009, the Ghana Wiring Code, was particularly important as the country's energy sector adopted new technologies, including solar systems, electric vehicles and battery storage.

He urged newly certified electricians to adhere to approved standards and regulations, use quality materials, keep abreast of emerging technologies and educate clients on the importance of electrical safety.

The ceremony was held under the theme, “Setting the Standards: Powering Ghana's Future – EV, Solar and Beyond.”

A total of 181 candidates from the Tamale Examination Centre successfully completed the certification process. They were drawn from the Upper West, Upper East, North East, Savannah and Northern Regions, as well as the northern parts of the Oti and Bono East Regions.

Congratulating the candidates, Mr Alhassan reminded them that certification came with a responsibility to uphold professional ethics and protect lives, property and the environment.

He said the growing adoption of electric vehicles and solar technologies would create new opportunities for certified electricians, making continuous professional development and compliance with safety standards increasingly important.

Mr Alhassan also referenced the proposed Electric Vehicle Charging Station and Battery Swap Systems Regulations, 2026, which he said had been laid before Parliament by the Energy Commission and were expected to be completed in October.

He called for closer collaboration among the GSA, the Energy Commission, electricians and other industry stakeholders to promote the use of certified electrical cables and ensure safer electrical installations across the country.

— CitiNewsRoom