General News of Thursday, 20 May 2010

Source: GNA

Minister advises Ghanaians to pay attention to measurement

Accra, May 20, GNA - Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industr= y, on Thursday advised Ghanaians to pay attention to accurate measurement an= d standards in their daily lives.

She said: "We need to work on application of accurate and reliable measurement. We need to encourage the use of weighing scales for foodstuf= fs in transactions with corporate organisations and individuals". Ms. Tetteh was speaking on the theme: "Measurement in Science and Technology, a Bridge to Innovation," at this year's celebration of World Metrology Day in Accra. World Metrology Day is celebrated on May 20, every year to promote a=

single coherent system of measurement traceable to the International Syst= em of Unit. She noted that ability to ensure accurate measurement opened up new opportunities for development. Ms. Tetteh tasked management of Ghana Standards Board (GSB) to begin= a programme that would enable Ghanaians to adopt the use of accurate measurement as a lifestyle to ensure fair trade between business men and women as well as customers.

She said application of measurement cut across all sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, production, science and education, agricultural as well as safety issues. Reverend Moses Allotey-Pappoe, Deputy Executive Director of GSB, sai= d the Board sought to intensify its level of collaboration with some institutions.

They area the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Electricity Company of Ghana, Oil Marketing Companies, Volta River Authority, Mining Companies a= nd Ghana Water Company Limited and other stakeholders.

Rev. Allotey-Pappoe said "We live and work in structures given to us= by science and technology. We are transported around on roads, across water and in the air by systems that are the direct result of science and technolog= y". He said that those activities were possible because of people's abil= ity to rely on accurate measurement and to refer measurement to international=

standards. Mr Kwaku Agyeman Duah, Industry Coordinator, Oil Marketing Companies= , said the oil sector could not function effectively without measurement an= d advised Ghanaians to pay attention to accurate measurement at fuel statio= ns. "Many Ghanaians do not check the 10 litre measuring tank at the fill= ing station and many fuel attendants take advantage to cheat their customers,= " he said.