“Actively seek information and education about any electrical product you intend purchasing, it helps in avoiding counterfeit products as fake electrical products and electronic appliances you purchased could turn out to be your death warrant,” Mr Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director of CDA Consult stated in Accra.

Mr Ameyibor explained that the CDA Consult’s National Anti-Counterfeit campaign therefore sought to create public awareness about the dangers of fake goods, stressing that, “it has become apparent and almost impossible to stop the proliferation of fake electrical products and electronic appliances in the country.

“Our only option is the power of purchase, you have an obvious choice to either purchase fake goods or go in for the genuine ones hence the urgent need for holistic public education, and we need to join forces to sanitize the Ghanaian market to stop patronizing fake goods”.

Mr Ameyibor noted that sitting on the sidelines was not an option in the fight against counterfeit electrical products and electronic appliances, and called for greater stakeholder involvement in the National Campaign embarked on by CDA Consult, which was on the theme: “Avoid Patronage of Counterfeit Electrical Products/Electrical Appliances”.

He encouraged stakeholders who sought to join the crusade to contact CDA Consult through email: communicate2develop@gmail.com, stressing that the issues of counterfeiting of electrical products, which had the potential to affect the health and safety of individuals and that it should be of concern to everyone.

CDA Consult in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) with support from Services Merchandize Limited (SML) and New Lucky Electricals have organized two workshops at Ho in the Volta Region and Sunyani in Brong Ahafo Region.

The CDA Consult’s Executive Director noted that everyone involved in the electrical sector - from consumer to manufacturer - had a role to play in protecting and preventing counterfeit electrical products from entering legitimate supply chains.

He said as part of the holistic campaign, an exhibition of electrical products and electronic appliances was organized alongside the workshop to practically provide a proactive platform for manufacturers, distributors, importers, installers, contractors, law enforcement and governmental to understand the impact of counterfeit products.

Mr Ameyibor explained that; “we must team up as stakeholders to eliminate electrical product counterfeiting at its source, and also prevent its proliferation into ever-expanding markets, in the country.

The CDA Consult Executive Director also called on electrical contractors, electricians, retailers, distributors and dealers in all types of electrical products and electronic appliances, to comply with safety requirements and join stakeholders to deal with product counterfeiting which was a serious issue.

He also cautioned the public, especially procurement officers to be vigilant, as counterfeiters intentionally misled the public and everyone along the supply chain.

Mr Joseph Obeng, President of Ghana Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA), affirmed the negative impact of fake goods on the electronic and electrical industry as it turn to wean the confidence of the consuming public.

Mr Obeng who is also the Managing Director of New Lucky Electricals called for multi-stakeholder involvement in the campaign as it was in the interest of players in the industry, than any other person or group of people.

Mr Vijay P. Gokaldas, SML Chief Executive Officer, explained that counterfeiters were eroding the gains of genuine business operators in electrical and electronic market and therefore commended CDA Consult for creating a broad based public platform for engagement and adoption of strategic plans to deal with the problem.

The Anti-counterfeiting educational crusade being undertaking by CDA Consult also seeks to help professionals understand the dangers associated with counterfeit electrical products.

CDA Consult is collaborating with public institutions, including the Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana National Fire Service, Electrical Contractors, Electrical Manufacturers, Electrical Shop Owners, end users, contractors, security agencies, and the media in the crusade against the proliferation of counterfeit electric products in the country.

The campaign also focuses on equipping public officials with basic information to recognize electrical counterfeit items at first sight.

It also seeks to ensure that officials take stiffer actions against dealers in counterfeit electrical products; and also equip electricians and retailers to be able to distinguish between fake electrical products from genuine ones.