Tamale, July 21, GNA – The Energy Commission of Ghana in collaboration with USAID has graduated 44 certified electrical wiring professionals to increase the number of certified professionals in the electrical sector.
The graduates included 10 women, who successfully underwent four weeks of wiring training in installation, health, and safety, and wiring at the Dabokpa Technical Institute in Tamale, and passed the certification examinations.
They excelled out of a total of 50 people who were drawn from low-income communities within the Northern, Savannah and North East Regions.
The graduates were presented with certificates, a box of tools and a safety vest each, at a graduation ceremony held in Tamale, to enhance their ability to operate in the electrical field.
They were the maiden beneficiaries of the USAID wiring artisan’s scholarship scheme, which formed part of the USAID-funded Power Africa West Africa Energy programme on the theme: “Increasing Electricity Access in Northern Ghana through Safe and Affordable Electrical Wiring Services”.
The West Africa Energy Programme is an integral piece of Power Africa and a USAID initiative that brings together technical and legal experts, the private sector, and governments across the world to partner, to increase power access in Africa.
Madam Virginia Palmer, United States Ambassador to Ghana, who spoke during the graduation ceremony in Tamale, commended the Energy Commission of Ghana for passing the electric wiring regulations law (L.I 2008) and for training artisans to legally engage in professional electrical wiring and installation.
She expressed joy over the relationship between Ghana and the United States noting that Tamale Central, Lamashegu and Timber markets would benefit from a $360 million project aimed at upgrading Ghana’s infrastructure and power systems.
Mr William Owuraku-Aidoo, Deputy Minister for Energy said the northern part of the country had the least number of over 11,000 certified wiring professionals in the country since the passage of the electrical wiring regulations law in 2011.
He said USAID’s initiative to focus on the northern part of the country would create employment opportunities for the youth and reduce installation costs in areas within the region since certified professionals were available.
He called on non-governmental organisations, corporate organisations and well-meaning citizens to emulate the gesture to drive an increase in access to electricity in the country.
Madam Adaku Ufere, Chief of Party of the USAID-funded Power Africa West Africa Energy Programme, said “Judging by the success of the maiden edition of the energy programme and having 80 per cent of trainees pass their exams, Power Africa looks forward to holding more training programme.”
She said the graduates were equipped with updated and safest working tools and equipment to ensure their safety in the field of work.
Two graduates, Mr Yakubu Mohammed Shani and Miss Sharon Edem Opoku were adjudged outstanding male and female graduating professionals.
Miss Opoku appealed to the government to employ the first five outstanding students into electrical and wiring organisations to give hope to aspiring wiring trainees.
She urged females not to restrict their abilities and encouraged them to venture into male dominated fields.
Mr Shani was optimistic that he would achieve more as a wiring professional, saying the training had ushered him into a profession he was passionate about.
GNA