GSB to test vehicles for roadworthiness

Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - The Ghana Standard Board (GSB) on Tuesday said it had built the capacity to test the roadworthiness of vehicles repaired after accidents and imported new and second hand vehicles. The GSB would also be able to test for brake failures and stability of vehicles, Mr Nimo Ahinkora, Executive Director of GSB said.

He urged insurance companies to rely on GSB before they insure vehicles to make sure that the vehicle has a credible roadworthiness certificate.

Mr Ahinkora was speaking at a ceremony at which he received laboratory equipment for vehicle testing, electricity and water meters from Huge Ghana Limited, as part of World Bank's Public Enterprise Privatisation Technical Assistance (PEPTA) Project, which stated in July 2000 and ended June 2004.

He said the objective of the support was to help the GSB to achieve International Organization Standardization (ISO) 9000 Certification through upgrading management practice and the acquisition of information technology.

"Now that the Board has received international certification it would provide technical support to the Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division (VELD) to help in the re-licensing of vehicles."

He said this would help reduce accidents on the roads, boost the economy and tourism.

"Not only does the Board aim at testing and setting standards in the country but it is also making sure that it has the quality staff to man the equipment at our disposal."

Mr Ahinkorah said GSB would provide technical assistance to industry and commerce thereby making the private sector more competitive.

He said GSB was committed to maintaining high quality standard and expressed the hope that it would be able to accredit all laboratories in the country.

Mr Michael Ayensu, Director, Work Bank Desk at the Ministry of Finance said the Ministry was working hard to have a first class Reference Laboratory and that was why it was committed to helping GSB achieve this.