Joseph Obeng, President of the Ghana Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA), has said fake electrical products and electronic appliances dealers are a major threat to the electronic and electrical industry as it dents the image and business of the genuine dealers.

Mr Obeng, who is also the Managing Director of New Lucky Electricals, said the company has resolved to fight against the proliferation of counterfeit electrical products and electronic appliances.

He said New Lucky Electricals had therefore joined forces with the “National Anti-Counterfeit Electrical Products/Electronic Appliances Campaign,” being undertaken by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) to fight the menace.

Mr Obeng stated this after holding consultative meeting with Mr Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director, CDA Consult on the campaign, which is dubbed: “Avoid patronage of counterfeit electrical products/electronic appliances”.

The CDA Consult in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has embarked on a comprehensive campaign across the ten regional capitals and 150 out of the 216 district capitals to expose stakeholders and users to the great danger, associated with patronizing counterfeit electrical products.

He however charged CDA Consult to pursue the campaign without antagonising any particular company…“the campaign must holistically embrace all stakeholders and create a platform for all genuine dealers to demonstrate and project their posture against fake dealers”.

He also charged regulators to adopt pragmatic systems to police the market and work together with dealers. “We must work together to protect the image of the industry and investors”.

Mr Obeng therefore commended CDA Consult for the bold initiative, stressing the campaign was laudable, “but you must keep focus on the greater picture, so let us work together to eliminate counterfeiters from the industry”.

Mr Ameyibor commended New Lucky Electrical Company Limited for joining the campaign and explained that the campaign emanated from the fact that the proliferation of counterfeit electrical goods and products in the country was assuming quite an alarming proportion and “we are all at risk”.

He said the campaign which started last year at Ho in the Volta Region between December 14 to 16, 2017, moved to Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region, April 12 to 14, 2018, was constrained with sponsorship and therefore appealed to dealers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to join the campaign with financial and other logistical supports.

“We need more partners to contact and join forces with CDA Consult through email: communicate2develop@gmail.com so that collectively we can deal with the canker of fake electrical products and electronic appliances dealers who have found fertile ground for operating in Ghana,” he said.

Mr Ameyibor said the Board and Management of CDA Consult believed that the platform being created would help reduce the market share of the counterfeiters and inject the highest standards of professionalism, efficiency and respect for people and the environment into the industry.

He acknowledged the contributions of key public institutions, including; the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Police Service among others for providing resources persons for the campaign.

He also commended Services Merchandize Limited, Glamossay Hotel, at Abesim near Sunyani, for their commitment towards the fight against fake dealers.

The CDA Consult campaign focuses on equipping public officials with basic information to recognise electrical counterfeit items at first sight, ensure that officials take stiffer actions against dealers in counterfeit electrical products, and also to equip electricians and retailers to be able to distinguish between fake electrical products from genuine ones.

The national campaign against the proliferation and use of counterfeit electrical products also aim at discouraging the patronage of counterfeit electrical products and to direct taste towards genuine electrical products.