Most police buildings need re-wiring - GECA Chairman

The Chairman of the Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA), Mr William Adu-Heneku, has called on government to take immediate steps to rewire all old Police buildings to ensure their safety.

‘‘We must not wait for a disaster to occur before we start finding solutions’’, he said.

Mr Adu-Heneku made the appeal in an interview with the media after a float and inspection of the New Tafo Police Headquarters building as part of activities to mark the association’s 70th anniversary at New Tafo.

He said as part of the anniversary, inspectors from the association have been to two districts and inspected Police quarters and stations, however, report from both places indicates that the wiring are outmoded and substandard which need urgent re-wiring.

Mr Adu-Heneku said the report from the inspections should be grounds for the closing down of the police stations by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to ensure the safety of the workers and people living in the buildings.

Mr Adu-Heneku called for the establishment of a Task Force to start the inspection of public buildings to ascertain the standard of electrical wiring.

Chief Superintendent, Isaac Obeng Dompreh of the Tafo District Police Headquarters said since the experts have inspected the buildings and confirmed that it needs immediate attention; he was going to write to the authorities about the situation per the report from the inspectors.

He said the building is over 50 years, and per his checks ever since the building was purchased there has not been any major renovation, be it electrical or other maintenance.

He then appealed to corporate organizations, philanthropist and individuals to come to the aid of the police before a disaster happens.

As part of the float, residents of Akyem Tafo and its environs were sensitized on the safety of using electricity and processes to acquire the services of a certified electrician to undertake their wiring services.