A state-of-the-art Air Conditioner and Refrigerator Testing Laboratory has been inaugurated at the head office of the Ghana Standards Authority in Accra as part of the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) Project.
The Facility which is the first of its kind in West Africa, cost $1,886,981.14, and was inaugurated on Thursday, November 18, 2021.
The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Michael Okyere Baafi and the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan, jointly performed the official inauguration. In attendance were other Ghanaian officials, including the CEO of MiDA, Mr. Martin Eson-Benjamin, and GSA Director-General, Prof. Alex Dodoo.
The U.S. government Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funded $1.84 million for the project under the Ghana Power Compact, and the GSA contributed $45,000.
The MCC is an innovative and independent U.S. foreign assistance agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty. The Ghana Power Compact is designed to directly support the energy sector’s strategic objectives to achieve power supply sufficiency.
Through the $316 million compact, the MCC will help the Government of Ghana to improve the power sector through investments that will provide more reliable and affordable electricity to Ghana’s businesses and households.
Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry representing the sector Minister said: “This is part of government’s policy and commitment to energy sufficiency and promotion of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency while advocating for adherence to SDGs in cleaner fossil-fuel technology, investment in energy infrastructure, and clean energy technology as required by SDG7. Again, this falls in line with government’s irrevocable response and commitment to climate change ideals within the sector”
In her remarks, U.S. Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan, noted: “MCC is working in Ghana to increase economic growth and reduce poverty by providing a grant of $316 million dollars through the Ghana Power Compact program. It’s my first visit to the GSA, although I have driven by many times and admired the adinkra symbol.”
“With implementing partners at the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), and in partnership with entities like the Ghana Standards Authority and Energy Commission, this part of the MCC Ghana Power Compact aims to advance energy efficiency programs to: reduce electricity demand, conserve today’s energy resources, and prepare Ghana to address the challenges of a changing global climate.”
“The stakes couldn’t be higher. The climate crisis poses an existential threat to every human on the planet. In the follow-up to COP 26, we need to adopt clean energy technologies and improve energy efficiency everywhere. This laboratory will put Ghana in a leadership position, and will help enforce strong efficiency standards, reduce emissions, and save Ghanaians money. It will help ensure high energy-consuming electrical appliances meet the Energy Commission’s standards and will support Ghana’s National Appliance Standards and Labeling Systems Program.”
Prof. Felix Charles Mills-Robertson, Board Chair of GSA, on his part stated: “The Facility is timely, as it will augment the work of the Energy Commission in its mandate. It is important to mention that GSA will soon introduce the Import Certification Scheme which mandates that selected high-risk goods entering Ghana are certified to meet the required standards. An approval grading system will be issued for such goods”
The Facility is equipped with modern testing equipment that meets Global Testing Standards and has the capacity to test 96 Air Conditioners and 48 Refrigeration appliances annually.
It has been provided with a 400KVA Generator Set and a dedicated Transformer to ensure an uninterrupted electrical power supply.
This Facility will enable the country’s Standards Regulator to carry out tests and ensure that all Air Conditioners and Refrigerators imported into Ghana meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) set out in the Energy Commission’s Energy Efficiency Regulations.
This will complement the work of the Energy Commission in enforcing the Import Certification Scheme which demands that selected high-risk goods entering Ghana must be certified as meeting all obligatory standards.
The lab will also support the effectiveness of the current Energy Efficiency Appliance Standards and Labeling regime being undertaken by the Energy Commission.
MiDA was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 702, 709 & 897 as amended). The objectives of the Authority are:
To oversee, manage and implement the Programmes under the Millennium Challenge Account for poverty reduction through economic growth as set out in each agreement between the Government of Ghana and the Millennium Challenge Corporation acting for and on behalf of the Government of the United States of America and for any other national development programme of similar nature funded by the Government of Ghana, a Development Partner or both and to provide for related matters.
GSA is an Agency of Government responsible for developing, publishing, and promoting standards in the country.
It does this through Standardisation, Metrology and Conformity Assessment activities. Some of these activities are testing, inspection and certification. These activities ensure that products or goods and services produced in Ghana, whether for local consumption or for export are safe, reliable and are of good quality.
