African Electrotechnical Standardisation Commission Inaugurated Website
The variations in technical standards across Africa have been identified as major stumbling blocks to developing common infrastructural platforms to support sub-regional economies. These variations have been found to be more pertinent in electrification projects thus hampering effective network expansion, coordination and cooperation. There are therefore, significant benefits to be derived from implementing programmes aimed at standardisation, Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiatives said on Wednesday. His statement was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration of African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission (AFSEC) in Accra. The AFSEC is responsible for identification of existing standards and harmonizing of those standards through either the adoption of international standards or where necessary their adaptation to African conditions. It would also recommend the harmonization of standards for application by the appropriate bodies of the African Union. Mr Baidoe-Ansah said, although most African countries were signatories to World Trade Organisation (WTO) treaties, which required countries to remove Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), it had not been so. "TBT can only effectively be achieved by agreeing on common international standards," he said. Mr Baidoe-Ansah said through AFSEC, African countries would be able to consider which electrotechnical standards had already found acceptance and could be adopted and which international electrotechnical standards required adaptation for effective application in Africa. It had been recognized that agreement on technical standards was an essential component of development, he said, adding that experience worldwide had proved that a vital component of implementing a sustainable development programme related to standardization. Mr Baidoe-Ansah tasked all members of AFSEC to be committed to the task ahead, by pooling resources, transfer of technology through training among members on standards development process and the application of adopted standards and establishment of products certification schemes. Mr Joshua Ofedie, President of the Union of Producers, Transporters and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa (UPDEA), said the inauguration of AFSEC at this time was important because many African countries were faced with the problems of inadequate electricity supply. He said the electricity problems faced in those countries had impact on their governments' efforts at lifting their countries into the middle-income group, alleviate poverty and eradicate various diseases from the African continent. "The variation in technical standards across Africa is a major stumbling block to cost effective electrification and network interconnection," Mr Ofedie, who is also the Chief Executive of the VRA, said. He explained that the overhead costs associated with the production of small quantities of orders created by the diversity of standards were prohibitively high and must be avoided to develop the power systems in a more efficient and cost effective manner. "It is in this light that UPDEA, in conjunction with the African Union, through the African Energy Commission (AFREC), is establishing the Commission to bring uniformity of standardization on the continent. "It is expected that AFSEC will help simplify the use of existing and new technologies by reducing complexities and promoting interfacing and interoperability and introducing new appropriate technology for Africa." Mr Ofedie said AFSEC would play an important role in spelling out specifications of equipment that would be safe and have longer life in Africa. Mr Adu G. Darkwa, Executive Director, Ghana Standards Board, said standardization was one of the pillars for sustainable development. "However, its success depends on the support of stakeholders including consumers and consumer associations. With a strong stakeholder support the implementation and application of standards would be enhanced." He said critical support in the form of funding recognition and commitment in terms of resources and expertise was necessary. Dr Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, Chief Executive of the Energy Commission, who chaired the function, said the development of standards was only one step to solving the problems of variations on the African continent and what was needed most was enforcement. He therefore appealed to the enforcement agencies to cooperate with the standardization bodies to help bring sanity to Africa.
Source: GNA
