Accra, Nov. 18, 2021. The Millennium Development Authority, MiDA, on Thursday November 18, inaugurated a modern Test Laboratory for use by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
MiDA and GSA invested US$$1,886,981.14 million ($1,841,841,981 and $45,000 respectively) in the new Air Conditioner and Refrigeration Test Laboratory, which was provided under the Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) Project of the Ghana Power Compact.
The AC Test Laboratory is the first of its kind in Ghana and in the West Africa-Sub Region. It is equipped with state-of-the-art testing equipment that meet Global Testing Standards, and has the capacity to test 96 Air Conditioners and 48 Refrigeration appliances annually. The Facility has been provided with a 400KVA Generator Set and a dedicated Transformer, to ensure uninterrupted electrical power supply.
The 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.
Additionally, the Facility 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. Furthermore, the Facility will also aid the effectiveness of the current Energy Efficiency Appliance Standards and Labeling regime, being undertaken by the Energy Commission.
In her welcome adsress, read on her behalf by MiDA CEO Martin Eson-Benjamin, Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, Board Chairperson of MiDA, said “it is our prayer that this asset will yield the intended benefits, by ensuring that only energy efficient cooling appliances are allowed into the Ghanaian market, thereby reducing the high energy demand and usage on the national electricity grid, while also improving customer confidence in their purchase of cooling equipment.”
Construction of the Containment Building began in June 2020 and was completed in May 2021. Installation of the AC and Refrigerator Laboratory equipment, the second phase of the Project, commenced in April 2021 and was completed within three months. Over forty-six (46) young men and women, comprising engineers, technicians, Office Staff and artisans were engaged on the Project, and have benefited from the transfer of essential skills.
Prof. Felix Charles Mills Robertson, Board Chair of GSA, said “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 as having met the required standards. Approval marks will thus be issued for such goods”
The Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) Project, one of four major Projects which make up the US$ 316 million Ghana Power Compact Program, is funded by the United States Government through its Agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
“This laboratory will put Ghana in a leadership position, helping to enforce strong efficiency standards, reducing emissions, and saving Ghanaians money,” said Ambassador Sullivan, United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ghana.
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 the area of 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”
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