The Anti-counterfeiting educational crusade being undertaking by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) also seeks to help professionals understand the dangers associated with counterfeit electrical products.

Mr Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director of the CDA Consult explained that the proliferation of counterfeit electrical products in the country “is on the increase, and as a nation we need concerted efforts to deal with the problem. “Ghana is gradually becoming fertile market for counterfeit electrical products. We need a national crusade to fight the proliferation of counterfeit electrical products.

We must all join the holistic crusade to sensitize the public against the usage of counterfeit electrical products”. Mr Ameyibor asserted that the usage of counterfeit electrical products is a major contributor to the rampant fire outbreaks in the country, therefore “the urgent need to support State institutions in public education on the dangers associated with patronage of counterfeit electrical products”.

He said the crusade also seeks to increase the level of public information about the dangers of counterfeit electrical products; reduce the ever increasing sale of the products on the Ghanaian markets; save lives and limit the nefarious effects of electrical counterfeiting.

Mr Ameyibor said the CDA Consult would collaborate with public institutions, including the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Electrical Contractors Association, 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 CDA Consult Executive Director said the crusade would also focus 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.

Mr Ameyibor, noted that the usage of counterfeit electrical products has a huge negative economic impact on the country as it impedes development, creates huge financial lost to investors and the State as well as loss of life.

He said: “CDA Consult is creating the platform and build the necessary forces against the proliferation of counterfeit electrical products. We are focusing on raising awareness among the public regarding counterfeiting. “We are creating a platform to expose the public to the main consequence of using cheap counterfeit electrical products – fire outbreaks and/or corporal harms like electrocution, loss of properties, accidents and death”.

He said the national crusade against the proliferation and use of counterfeit electrical products also aim at discouraging the patronage of counterfeit electrical products and to direct taste towards genuine electrical products.

Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) provides tailor made development communication tools necessary for operational transformation and translating dreams into achievable goals and equips clients with mechanism for public education on specific issues.

It also provides effective back-up or frontline monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure value for money delivery of projects, whilst providing clients with skills to deliver timely and accurate information on their activities, work, programmes and projects.

CDA Consult also aimed at building a responsive working culture for corporate growth through a social process at institutional levels based on dialogue using a broad range of tools and methods.

It also assists client to use continuous and adaptive process of gathering, organizing and formulating information and data into argument and to communicate to policy-makers through various interpersonal and mass media communication channels. Source: CDA Consult