Do not purchase poorly treated wooden poles : GSB

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 July '99

The Ghana Standards Board (GSB) on Monday cautioned the general public, particularly planning officers of District Assemblies and Communities, to exercise caution when purchasing wood poles for their electrification projects.

In a statement issued in Accra, the Board said it has received complaints about the sale of poorly treated poles to unsuspecting groups engaged in rural electrification programmes.

"The presence of poor quality poles used for power supply has been a source of great concern to the Board as well as its sector Ministry, Trade and Industry."

It said the concern stems from the fact that poor quality poles, pose danger to the public in that they tend to fail prematurely leading to electrocutions, fire outbreaks and destruction of life and property.

"This apart, poorly treated wood poles often lack the capacity to last long and, therefore, serve as a threat to the efforts being made to connect various parts of the country to the national grid.

"The present situation calls for a focus on standards and quality in the purchase of treated wood poles."

The Board asked the public to contact it for advice at its headquarters or regional offices in Kumasi, Ho, Tamale, Takoradi and Koforidua before purchasing wood poles for electrification.