Many Ghanaians are unknowingly losing money through poor electrical wiring systems, especially in older buildings, due to energy leakages, safety risks, and outdated installations that fail to meet current standards, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has said.
According to Ing. Francis Mensah Akpaloo, Senior Scientific Officer at the GSA, both aging wiring and substandard installations are contributing to higher electricity consumption and rising power bills in homes and businesses.
Speaking in an interview with The High Street Journal (THSJ), Ing. Akpaloo explained that Ghana has clear standards and wiring codes, specifically GS IEC 60227-3 and GS 1009, that define the minimum safety and quality requirements for electrical installations. These are designed to ensure not only the durability of cables and components but also the protection of users and their properties.
“When people use cables that meet these standards, and electricians follow the national wiring code, safety is enhanced, and energy efficiency improves,” he said.
He added that unfortunately, many installations in homes and offices don’t comply. Over time, the insulation in old wiring degrades, or connections become loose, which can lead to current leakages and higher electricity consumption.
According to Electrical Engineer Emmanuel Quaye, degraded wiring insulation and loose connections increase resistance in circuits, forcing appliances to draw extra current.
“When conductors corrode or insulation becomes brittle, you lose energy as heat before it even reaches your devices,” he explained. “That loss translates directly into higher meter readings and heavier bills.”
Ing. Akpaloo further noted that in some buildings, especially older ones, homeowners often notice strange behaviours such as power indicators lighting up even when switches are turned off.
“That could be a sign of a power leakage in the system. So even though you think you’ve turned something off, energy is still being consumed and you’re still being billed for it,” he explained.
These leakages, he said, contribute to inefficiencies that cause prepaid electricity credit to deplete faster than expected.
The problem is further worsened by the use of unqualified electricians. Ing. Akpaloo stressed that non-certified technicians often use incorrect wiring techniques, inferior materials, or fail to make proper contact connections.
“This not only leads to power losses but also exposes building occupants to hazards like electrical shocks and fires,” he added.
“In some cases, people get shocked just by touching a wall or a doorknob because faulty wiring is energizing the structure itself. These risks are very real,” he warned.
However, non-technical losses from technical inefficiencies account for an estimated 7% of total electricity distributed.
While theft and meter tampering receive attention, energy wasted through faulty wiring remains a hidden cost that consumers bear.
To address these issues, the GSA is encouraging periodic inspection and rewiring of properties, especially those over ten years old.
“We recommend renovation of wiring systems after a period of use. It helps reduce energy losses and makes buildings safer,” Ing. Akpaloo advised.
He also urged the public to buy electrical materials from credible and traceable sources and to always engage certified professionals for installations.
“Electrical accessories are very critical to user safety. If there’s a problem, you should be able to trace the source. That’s why working with certified electricians and buying from reliable suppliers is essential,” he said.
The Ghana Standards Authority says it is currently engaging industry players to promote the use of quality-assured materials and enforce compliance with Ghana’s electrical standards.
Meanwhile, for many Ghanaians, rewiring might seem like a costly inconvenience, but experts say it could be the difference between affordable power consumption and paying more than necessary, month after month.
