The Ashanti Region has recorded an annual average of 230 fire outbreaks over the past 10 years, largely attributed to the installation of inferior electrical cables.

The region also records at least five deaths and more than 300 injuries every year in electrical fire. The alarming situation has resulted in property loss of over GHC500 million in the last decade, said Desmond Ackah, Assistant Divisional Officer at the Regional Head Office of the Ghana National Fire Service.

Investigations by the fire service over the years have revealed that most of the industrial, commercial and domestic fire incidents are as a result of use of substandard cables.

“Because of economic considerations, some people go in for substandard cables for wiring without considering the fact that such cables have little resistivity as far as fire outbreaks are concern,” said Mr. Ackah.

He cautioned electricians and electrical contractors to desist from patronizing inferior cables to help reduce the number of electrical fires in the country. He also advised the public to refrain from contracting quack electricians to execute electrical works for them.

Mr. Ackah spoke to 3News at a workshop for electricians in Kumasi, organized by Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited to educate electricians and electrical contractors on the need to use quality and standardised cables for wiring.

Participants were also sensitized on best practices in wiring and cable selection to help curtail the electricity-related fire incidents in the country to protect their investments.

Nana Kwame Oteng-Gyasi, Marketing and Business Development Manager of Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited, observed that desisting from the use of inferior electrical products and using the services of professional installers will help protect lives and property.

The annual sensitization seminar is part of the company’s social investment project to promote best practices.

Over 300 participants, including representatives from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and independent electricians and electrical engineers attended the one-day seminar in Kumasi.