ECOMET: Calibration guides and harmonized verification procedures of measurement instruments adopted

Metrology, science of measurement representing the base of the other components of Quality Infrastructure (QI), was the subject of a regional meeting held in Accra (Ghana), from 17 to 19 June 2019 . It is through the regional meeting of adoption of draft documents related to the calibration guides and harmonized verification procedures of measuring instruments by the Community Committee for Metrology (ECOMET) in the premises of Palm Royal Beach Hotel. Representatives of institutions (Ghanaian government, Ghana Standards Authority, ECOWAS Commission, European Union, UNIDO, PTB), experts in metrology of the beneficiary States of the programme except Togo, have participated.

The fifteen (15) ECOWAS member States and Mauritania now have allied calibration guides and harmonized procedures for the verification of measurement instruments within the sub regional area in an efficient and effective manner. This is the aim of the ECOMET workshop during which '’calibration guides and harmonized verification procedures of measuring instruments prepared by regional metrology experts, were proposed for adoption by the participants. During the three (03) days of work, participants representing their member countries, reviewed the various guides and procedures submitted to their appreciation. They adopted them after the amendments were incorporated. Participants also validated the status of implementation of the ECOMET 2017-2018 action plan and its ongoing website project.

At the opening of the meeting, Mr. Fakhruddin Azizi, UNIDO representative in Ghana and Liberia, expressed his satisfaction with the holding of the workshop, which is decisive in the process of setting up the Regional Quality Infrastructure. "I am convinced, given the significant efforts that the ECOWAS Commission has consistently deployed for the implementation of the Regional Quality Policy, that this meeting will allow us to take a further step in the march towards metrological traceability of the measures carried out in our region", he added. The representative of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kemjika Ajoku, stressed the interest of metrology in connection with the economic take-off of the region. "The openness of our States to the international market further confirms the role that Quality Infrastructure, especially metrology, must play in order to ensure a better competitiveness of our products and services in order to develop our economy", he said. Mr. Charles Amoako, representing both the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Minister of Trade and Industry, recalled the challenges of global industrial development to which the West African sub-region should be a part. "As part of the global village, the West African sub-region must also be mobilized to participate actively in global industrial development and international trade. This is why countries like Ghana and other West African countries should do more than ever to build Quality Infrastructure to join the global quality and competitive trade network", he declared, before officially launching the workshop.

At the end of the work, five (05) technical committees and their working groups were formed, namely the technical committees sensitization, legal metrology, mass and relative quantity, thermometry and quality system.

The participants, very pleased, expressed their full satisfaction for the quality of the conduct of the work, having allowed the achievement of objectives. "There was seriousness in the conduct of the work under the leadership of the President of ECOMET and his Vice President. The objectives assigned to this workshop have been fully achieved and I am grateful to all the participants. From exchanges, it emerges a pressing need for training to improve the capacity of metrologists of the countries of the sub-region", argued Mr. Issa Sawadogo of the Burkinabe Agency for Standardization (ABNORM). The same satisfaction came from the side of Frank Martin of Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB). "Everything was impressive for me because all the points were addressed with satisfaction. My expectations have been totally fulfilled and I praise all those who contributed to this brilliant success of the workshop. The challenge is to work for ECOMET's membership in AFRIMET and that AFRIMET ensures that all its members have reached the same levels in terms of metrology", he said.

All of the participants and the ECOWAS ECOMET bureau chaired by Mr. Paul Date, made recommendations, including the harmonization of verification intervals of measuring instruments in legal metrology for the efficient operationalization of the Community Committee for Metrology. In addition, they reaffirmed their commitment to work for the strengthening of the regional metrology system in order to help achieve real industrial development and a strong and sustainable economy in the West African sub-region.

 

Sunday, June 23, 2019 - 00:15

This program is funded by the European Union with the technical support of UNIDO, the implementing Agency

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Commision of the European Union

Copyright - 2019 - ECOWAS AGENCY FOR QUALITY

ECOMET: Calibration guides and harmonized verification procedures of measurement instruments adopted | ECOWAQ

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