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WEIGHTS
AND MEASURES DECREE, 1975 (NRCD
326)
As amended
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
PART I—UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
1. International System of Units
2. Measurements to be made in
International System of Units
3. Primary standards
4. Secondary standards
5. Tertiary standards
6. Working standards
7. Verification of standards
8. Keeping of standards
PART II—WEIGHTS AND MEASURES FOR
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
9. Weights and measures for use in
trade and industry
10. Marking of weights and
measures with denomination
11. Stamping, verification and
issue of certificates
12. Lead, pewter and iron weights
13. Mode of filling measures of
capacity
PART III—ADMINISTRATION
14. Custodian of Weights and
Measures
15. Inspectors of Weights and
Measures
16. Duties of Inspectors
17. Powers of entry and seizure
PART IV—OFFENCES
18. Offences relating to trade and
industry
19. Offences relating to packaged
goods
20. Failure of seller to weigh or
measure
21. Trading without required
weights, measures, etc.
22. Fraud, forgery, etc.
23. Obstruction, etc. of Inspector
24. Offences by Inspectors
25. Offences by bodies of persons
26. Seizure and forfeiture
27. Evidence as to possession
PART V—GENERAL
28. Permissible margin of error
29. Conversion
30. References to units in other
enactments
31. Vessels not represented as
authorised measures, etc.
32. Regulations
33. Interpretation
34. Repeals and Savings.
SCHEDULES
First Schedule
Part 1—S.I. units of
measurement-the basic units
Part 2—Supplementary and derived
units
Part 3—Units which may be used in
conjunction with basic units and
supplementary and derived units
Part 4—Multiples and submultiples
of units of measurement
Second Schedule—Weights and
measures for use for trade and
industry
Part 1—Linear Measures
Part 2—Square Measures
Part 3—Cubic Measures
Third Schedule—Conversion
Part 1—Conversion of the values of
si units in terms of the values of
other units of measurement
Part 2—Conversion of the values of
other units of measurement in
terms of the S I units
IN pursuance of the National
Redemption Council (Establishment)
Proclamation, 1972, this Decree is
hereby made:
PART I—UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
Section 1—International System of
Units.
(1) The units of measurement to be
used throughout Ghana shall be the
units known as the International
System of Units.
(2) The International System of
Units shall comprise
(a) the basic units set out in
Part 1 of the First Schedule;
(b) the supplementary and derived
units set out in Part 2 of the
First Schedule; and
(c) the units which may be used in
conjunction with the basic,
supplementary and derived units as
set out in Part 3 of the First
Schedule.
(3) Multiples and sub-multiples of
each of the units of the
International System of Units
shall be an integral power of ten
(positive or negative) as set out
in Part 4 of the First Schedule.
Section 2—Measurements to be made
in International System of Units.
(1) All measurements shall be made
by reference to the International
System of Units or their multiples
or sub-multiples.
(2) No other units of measurement
or their multiples or
sub-multiples shall be used.
Section 3—Primary Standards.
(1) The Commissioner shall, as
occasion may require, procure or
cause to be prepared and
maintained national prototype
standards of mass and measure of
the units of the International
System of Units set out in Part 1
of the First Schedule.
(2) The national prototype
standards of mass and measure
shall be verified and certified in
terms of the international
prototype standards of mass and
measure (maintained and kept by
the international Bureau of
Weights and Measures) by such
means and in such manner as the
Commissioner may determine.
(3) When so verified and certified
the national prototype standards
shall be the Ghanaian Primary
Standards of mass and measure by
reference to which in Ghana all
standards of mass and measure
shall be maintained.
(4) The Ghanaian Primary Standards
of mass and measure shall be in
such form and of such material as
the Commissioner may direct and
the form, material and place of
keeping shall be such as to be as
far as practicable proof against
mechanical and atmospheric
agencies and all other sources of
error.
(5) The Commissioner shall also
cause to be maintained such
weighing machines and other
articles as appear to him
necessary for giving effect to
this section.
Section 4—Secondary Standards.
The Commissioner shall procure or
cause to be prepared and
maintained Secondary Standards of
mass and measure consisting of all
the weights and measures set out
in the Second Schedule, and shall
cause such Secondary Standards to
be verified from the Ghanaian
Primary Standards.
Section 5—Tertiary Standards.
The Commissioner shall procure or
cause to be prepared and
maintained such copies of the
Secondary Standards as he may
think fit and shall cause such
copies to be verified as Tertiary
Standards of mass and measure.
Section 6—Working Standards.
(1) The Commissioner shall, as
occasion may require, procure or
cause to be prepared and
maintained Working Standards of
mass and measure in such form as
may be recommended by the
Custodian of Weights and Measures,
who shall verify the Working
Standards by reference to the
Tertiary Standards and cause an
indelible mark to be made on such
Working Standards.
(2) The Working Standards shall be
used for the inspection,
verification and authentication of
all weights and measures as
required by this Decree, and for
such other purposes as the
Commissioner may direct.
Section 7—Verification of
Standards.
(1) The Commissioner shall cause
the Primary Standards to be
verified at least once in every
ten years at the International
Bureau of Weights and Measures.
(2) Where the Primary Standards
are to be sent out for such
verification, the Commissioner
shall cause to be deposited with
the Custodian of Weights and
Measures such Secondary Standards
as he may think fit after having
provided for them to be compared
and verified with the Primary
Standards in such manner as he may
direct and such Secondary
Standards shall be deemed to be
the Primary Standards during such
time as the Primary Standards are
out of Ghana.
(3) The Secondary, Tertiary and
Working Standards shall be
compared and verified by the
Custodian of Weights and Measures
at such intervals and in such
manner as the Commissioner may
determine.
(4) On being satisfied of the
accuracy of the Secondary,
Tertiary or Working Standards as
the case may be, the Custodian of
Weights and Measures shall issue
certificates of verification and
such certificates shall be
retained by the persons who have
custody of the relevant standards.
(5) All Secondary, Tertiary and
Working Standards which have been
duly verified and certified shall,
for all purposes, be conclusively
deemed to be true and accurate and
judicial notice shall be taken of
every such standard.
(6) The Commissioner may at any
time cancel any Secondary,
Tertiary or Working Standard and
shall by notification in the
Gazette direct that such cancelled
standard shall no longer be used
for the purposes of this Decree.
Section 8—Keeping of Standards.
(1) The Primary and Secondary
Standards shall be kept in such
place as the Commissioner may
determine in the custody and under
the control of the Custodian of
Weights and Measures who shall
ensure their security in such
manner as the Commissioner may
direct.
(2) The Tertiary Standards shall
be kept in the custody of such
persons and in such manner as the
Commissioner may direct.
(3) The Working Standards shall be
kept in the custody of the
Inspectors of Weights and Measures
and such other persons as the
Commissioner may direct.
PART II—WEIGHTS AND MEASURES FOR
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Section 9—Weights and Measures for
use in Trade and Industry.
(1) No person shall—
(a) use for trade or industry any
unit of measurement of length,
area, volume, or mass or weight,
which is not included in the First
Schedule; or
(b) use for trade or industry, or
have in his possession for use for
trade or industry, and linear,
square or cubic measure which is
not included in the Second
Schedule or any weight which is
not so included.
(2) Except as may be prescribed
and subject to any regulations
made under section 32—
(a) a linear measure specified in
Part 1 of the Second Schedule may
be marked in whole or in part with
divisions and subdivisions
representing any shorter length or
lengths;
(b) no cubic measure specified in
Part 3 of the Second Schedule
shall be used for trade or
industry by means of any division
or subdivision marked thereon as a
cubic measure of any lesser
quantity.
Section 10—Marking of Weights and
Measures with Denomination.
(1) Every weight for use in trade
or industry shall have the
denomination of such weight marked
on the top or side thereof in
legible figures and letters by the
manufacturer:
Provided that where the small size
of a weight renders it
impracticable to mark such a
weight, a certificate shall be
supplied by the manufacturer in
respect of such weight and the
certificate shall be produced to
an Inspector on his request and
shall contain sufficient
particulars to enable the
identification and denomination of
such weight to be established.
(2) Every measure of capacity for
use in trade or industry shall
have the denomination thereof
marked on the outside of such
measure in legible figures and
letters by the manufacturer.
(3) A weight or measure not in
conformity with this section shall
not be stamped with a stamp of
verification under section 11.
Section 11—Stamping, Verification
and Issue of Certificates.
(1) Subject to the provisions of
this section, every weight,
measure and instrument for
weighing or measuring for use in
trade or industry shall be
verified and stamped by an
Inspector with a stamp of
verification, and the Inspector
shall issue a certificate of
verification at the time of
stamping:
Provided that where the small size
of a weight renders it
impracticable for the Inspector to
stamp it with his stamp of
verification, he may on being
satisfied with the identity and
denomination of such weight,
dispense with stamping and issue a
certificate of verification.
(2) A certificate of verification
issued under subsection (1) shall
remain in force for such period as
may be prescribed and shall during
that period authorise the use of
the weight, measure or instrument
for weighing or measuring in any
part of Ghana unless it is unjust.
(3) Every person who has in his
possession for use in trade or
industry any weight, measure or
instrument for weighing or
measuring shall retain in his
possession the certificate of
verification issued in respect
thereof and shall produce the
certificate for inspection
whenever required to do so by an
Inspector.
(4) Every weight, measure and
instrument for weighing or
measuring which has been stamped
and verified under subsection (1)
shall be authenticated within such
intervals as the Commissioner may
prescribe.
(5) The verification and stamping
or authentication under this
section shall be made by reference
to a Working Standard.
(6) Where any weight, measure or
instrument for weighing or
measuring is of such a character
as not to be capable of being
readily or conveniently brought to
an Inspector for the purpose of
examination, such Inspector shall
upon the written request of the
person in possession of the
weight, measure or instrument, and
on payment by him of the
prescribed fees, attend at the
premises where it is located and
there examine it.
(7) An Inspector shall not verify,
stamp, certify or authenticate any
weight, measure or instrument for
weighing or measuring where—
(a) it is not in conformity with
section 9(1) or 9(2); or
(b) it presents unusual features
which do not conform to such
pattern or specifications as the
Custodian of Weights and Measures
may prescribe generally by notice
published in the Gazette; or
(c) it contravenes or fails to
comply with any of the provisions
of this Decree or regulations made
thereunder.
Section 12—Lead, Pewter and Iron
Weights.
(1) A weight made of lead or
pewter or of any mixture thereof
shall not be verified and stamped
with a stamp of verification or
certified or authenticated under
section 11 nor shall such weight
be used for trade:
Provided that this subsection
shall not apply where such weight
is wholly and substantially cased
with brass, copper or iron and
legibly marked "cased".
(2) Nothing in this section shall
prevent the insertion into a
weight of such plug of lead or
pewter as is necessary for the
purpose of adjusting the weight
and affixing thereon the stamp of
verification.
(3) An Inspector may refuse to
stamp any iron weight or any
weight cased with iron unless it
has a plug of softer metal upon
which to impress or affix the
stamp.
Section 13—Mode of Filling
Measures of Capacity.
(1) A measure of capacity having a
portion made of metal or other
suitable material (sufficient to
bear the stamp of verification)
extending from the lower end, and
having the upper portion made
wholly or partially of glass or
other transparent material so that
the level of the surface of the
contents may be clearly seen, and
with the level line distinctly
marked upon the transparent
portion, may be used for measuring
liquids and shall be filled to the
level of the line so marked.
(2) All measures used for
measuring liquids not constructed
as described in subsection (1)
shall be filled to the level of
the brim.
(3) All measures of capacity used
for any purpose other than
measuring liquids shall either be
stricken with a round stick or
roller, straight and of the same
diameter from end to end, or if
the article sold cannot from its
size and shape conveniently be
stricken, shall be filled in all
parts as nearly to the level of
the brim as the size and shape of
the article will permit.
PART III—ADMINISTRATION
Section 14—Custodian of Weights
and Measures.
(1) The Commissioner may, by
notice published in the Gazette,
appoint a person or body of
persons to be Custodian of Weights
and Measures for the purpose of
carrying into effect the
provisions of this Decree.
(2) The Custodian shall be
appointed on such terms and
conditions as the Commissioner may
by his instrument of appointment
determine.
(3) The Commissioner may by
regulations prescribe the duties
and powers of the Custodian.
Section 15—Inspectors of Weights
and Measures.
(1) The Commissioner may, by
notice published in the Gazette,
appoint a Chief Inspector of
Weights and Measures and such
number of Deputy Chief Inspectors
and Inspectors of Weights and
Measures as may be necessary for
carrying into effect the
provisions of this Decree.
(2) Every Inspector shall make
such returns and furnish such
information as the Chief Inspector
may require and generally shall
conform to the directions of the
Chief Inspector.
(3) The powers and duties of the
Chief Inspector may be exercised
and discharged by any Deputy Chief
Inspector.
(4) The Commissioner may from time
to time give the Chief Inspector
directions of a general character
not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Decree and the
Chief Inspector shall give effect
to such directions.
Section 16—Duties of Inspectors.
(1) The Chief Inspector shall
cause such Working Standards and
instruments for weighing or
measuring as he may think
requisite to be procured and
delivered to the Inspectors and
every Inspector shall, at such
times and places as the Chief
Inspector shall appoint (of which
appointments public notice shall
be given), attend with his Working
Standards and instruments for
weighing and measuring, and
examine all weights, measures and
instruments for weighing or
measuring brought to him.
(2) An Inspector shall examine
every weight and measure which is
brought to him for the purpose of
verification, and shall compare it
with the corresponding Working
Standard.
(3) If he finds it to be just, and
not already stamped or marked, he
shall stamp or mark it in the
prescribed manner.
(4) An Inspector shall also stamp
and mark in the prescribed manner
any instrument for weighing or
measuring brought or submitted to
him for examination which he finds
to be just and accurate and not
already stamped or marked.
(5) Whenever an Inspector stamps,
marks or verifies any weight,
measure or instrument for weighing
or measuring, he shall enter in a
book kept by him particulars of
the stamping, marking or
verification.
Section 17—Powers of Entry and
Seizure.
(1) Every Inspector may, subject
to the production if so requested
of a certificate of his
appointment, at all reasonable
times enter any shop, store,
warehouse, stall, yard or other
place, in which he has reasonable
cause to believe that goods are
bought, sold, exposed, or kept for
sale, or weighed or measured for
conveyance or carriage, and may
require the production of, and may
examine, any weight, measure or
instrument for weighing or
measuring that may be there.
(2) If on the examination the
Inspector has reasonable cause to
believe that any such weight,
measure or instrument for weighing
or measuring is made or used
contrary to any of the provisions
of this Decree or of any statutory
instrument made thereunder, he may
seize, carry away, and detain it
for the purpose of comparing it
with a Working Standard.
PART IV—OFFENCES
Section 18—Offences Relating to
Trade and Industry.
Any person who uses in trade or
industry, or has in his possession
for use in trade or industry, any
weight, measure or instrument for
weighing or measuring—
(a) which is false or unjust; or
(b) which is not authorised to be
used under section 9; or
(c) which is not marked or
certified in conformity with
section 10; or
(d) which is not verified,
stamped, certified or
authenticated in conformity with
section 11 or 12; or
(e) in respect of which a
certificate of verification is not
in force,
shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on summary conviction to a
fine not exceeding ¢500.00 or to
imprisonment not exceeding twelve
months or to both.
Section 19—Offences Relating to
Packaged Goods.
(1) Any person who sells goods
whether on his own behalf or on
behalf of another shall, if the
goods are packaged or put into
containers or are similarly
prepared for exhibition or sale,
cause both the gross and the net
weights or measures to be declared
on the package or container.
(2) Any person required under this
section to have the weight or
measure of goods declared on the
package or container who refuses
or neglects to do so as required
by this section shall be guilty of
an offence and liable on summary
conviction to imprisonment not
exceeding two years or to a fine
not exceeding ¢1,000.00 or to
both.
Section 20—Failure of Seller to
Weigh or Measure.
(1) Any person who sells goods,
whether on his own behalf or on
behalf of another, by weight or
measure, shall upon being so
required by the person to whom the
goods are delivered and in the
presence of the last-mentioned
person—
(a) if the goods are sold by
weight, weigh the goods; or
(b) if the goods are sold by
measure, measure the goods.
(2) Any person required under this
section to weigh or measure any
goods who refuses or neglects to
do so as required by this section
shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on summary conviction to a
fine not exceeding ¢200.00.
Section 21—Trading without
Required Weights, Measures, Etc.
Where in any trade the transaction
or dealing is to be determined by
weight or measure and the trader
in respect of such trade is not in
possession of the weights,
measures or instruments for
weighing or measuring necessary
for such trade, he shall be guilty
of an offence and liable on
summary conviction to a fine not
exceeding ¢200.00.
Section 22—Fraud, Forgery, Etc.
Every person who—
(a) knowingly makes, sells or
uses, or knowingly causes to be
made, sold or used, any unjust
weight, measure, or instrument for
weighing or measuring; or
(b) forges or counterfeits, or
causes or procures to be forged or
counterfeited, or knowingly
assists in forging or
counterfeiting, any stamp or mark
used for stamping or marking any
weight, measure or instrument for
weighing or measuring; or
(c) knowingly sells, disposes of
or exposes for sale any weight,
measure or instrument for weighing
or measuring with any forged or
counterfeit stamp or mark thereon;
or
(d) with intent to defraud, alters
any weight, measure or instrument
for weighing or measuring stamped
or marked in accordance with this
Decree; or
(e) commits any fraud in the use
for trade or industry of any
weight, measure or instrument for
weighing or measuring,
shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on summary conviction to
imprisonment not exceeding two
years or to a fine not exceeding
¢1,000.00 or to both.
Section 23—Obstruction, Etc. of
Inspector.
Any person who—
(a) neglects or refuses to produce
for examination by an Inspector
when lawfully required to do so
any certificate, weight, measure,
or instrument for weighing or
measuring in his possession or
custody or on his premises; or
(b) wilfully obstructs or hinders
an Inspector in the performance of
his duties under this Decree,
shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on summary conviction to
imprisonment not exceeding twelve
months or to a fine not exceeding
¢500.00 or to both.
Section 24—Offences by Inspectors.
Any Inspector who—
(a) stamps, marks or certifies any
weight or measure without duly
verifying it by comparison with
the proper Working Standard; or
(b) repairs, alters or adjusts any
weight, measure or instrument for
weighing or measuring examined by
him,
shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on summary conviction to a
fine not exceeding ¢200.00.
Section 25—Offences by Bodies of
Persons.
(1) Where an offence under this
Decree or under any statutory
instrument made thereunder is
committed by a body of persons:
(a) where the body of persons is a
body corporate, every director or
officer of that body corporate
shall be deemed to be guilty of
that offence; and
(b) where the body of persons is a
firm, every partner of that firm
shall be deemed to be guilty of
that offence.
(2) No person shall be deemed to
be guilty of an offence under
subsection (1) if he proves that
the act in respect of which he is
charged was committed by some
other person without his consent
or connivance and that he
exercised all such diligence to
prevent the commission of that act
as he ought to have exercised
having regard to all the
circumstances.
Section 26—Seizure and Forfeiture.
(1) Where an Inspector has
reasonable cause to believe that
an offence under this Decree has
been committed in respect of any
weight, measure or instrument for
weighing or measuring he may seize
and detain that weight, measure or
instrument.
(2) Where the owner of such
weight, measure or instrument
cannot be found within thirty days
after the seizure, that weight,
measure or instrument shall be
forfeited to the Republic.
(3) Subject to subsection (2), any
weight, measure or instrument for
weighing or measuring in respect
of which any offence is committed
under this Decree may be forfeited
to the Republic by order of the
court.
(4) Any weight, measure or
instrument for weighing or
measuring which is forfeited to
the Republic shall be destroyed or
otherwise disposed of in such
manner as the Chief Inspector may
direct.
Section 27—Evidence as to
Possession.
Where any weight, measure or
instrument for weighing or
measuring is found in the
possession of any person carrying
on trade or industry, or in or
upon the premises of any person
which (whether a building or in
the open air, and whether open or
enclosed) are used for trade or
industry, that person shall be
deemed for the purposes of this
Decree, unless the contrary is
proved, to have that weight,
measure or instrument for weighing
or measuring in his possession for
use in trade or industry.
PART V—GENERAL
Section 28—Permissible Margin of
Error.
(1) No weight, measure or
instrument for weighing or
measuring shall have a greater
error than the limits of error
prescribed by regulations made
under this Decree.
(2) Any weight, measure or
instrument for weighing or
measuring which is within the
prescribed limits of error shall
be deemed to be just and true for
the purposes of this Decree.
Section 29—Conversion.
(1) For the purpose of expressing
the values of the units of the
International System of Units in
terms of the values of other units
of measurement, Part 1 of the
Third Schedule shall have effect.
(2) For the purpose of expressing
the values of other units of
measurement in terms of values of
the units of the International
System of Units, Part 2 of the
Third Schedule shall have effect.
Section 30—References to Units in
other Enactments.
(1) Any reference to units of
measurement contained in any
enactment in force on the
commencement of this Decree shall
be construed by reference to the
appropriate units of the
International System of Units in
accordance with the rates of
conversion set out in the Third
Schedule.
(2) Without prejudice to the
provisions of subsection (1), the
Commissioner responsible for
Justice may by legislative
instrument adapt, amend, convert
or modify the provisions of any
enactment in order to replace
references to units of measurement
contained therein by references to
the units of the International
System of Units in accordance with
the rates of conversion set out in
the Third Schedule or in such
approximation thereto as the
Commissioner responsible for
Justice may consider necessary or
desirable.
Section 31—Vessels not Represented
as Authorised Measures, Etc.
Nothing in this Decree shall—
(a) prevent the sale or subject a
person to a penalty under this
Decree for the sale of anything in
any vessel where the vessel is not
represented as containing any
amount of a measure authorised
under this Decree, or
(b) subject a person to a penalty
under this Decree for, the
possession of any vessel where it
is shown that that vessel is not
intended for use as a measure.
Section 32—Regulations.
The Commissioner may by
legislative instrument make
regulations—
(a) prescribing or making
provision for anything which under
this Decree may be prescribed or
provided for by regulations, and
(b) prescribing the fees to be
charged for stamping, marking or
verifying weights, measures and
instruments for weighing or
measuring;
(c) modifying, amending or
revoking any of the provisions of
the Schedules to this Decree;
(d) otherwise for carrying into
effect the principles and purposes
of this Decree.
Section 33—Interpretation.
In this Decree, unless the context
otherwise requires:
"Commissioner" means the P.N.D.C
Secretary responsible for
Industries, Science and
Technology'. [As subtistuted by
the Weights and Measures
(Amendment) Law, 1992 (PNDCL 301)
s. 1].
"Inspector" includes the Chief
Inspector, a Deputy Chief
Inspector and an Inspector of
Weights and Measures;
"instrument for weighing" includes
a balance scale, beam, steel
meter, counterpoise and every
machine for determining weight;
"measure" includes any instrument
for the measurement of length,
area, volume, capacity,
temperature, pressure or gravity;
"prescribed" means prescribed by
regulations made under section 32;
"trade" means any contract,
bargain, sale or dealing made or
had in Ghana for any work, goods,
wares or merchandise or thing
which has been or is to be done,
sold, delivered, carried or agreed
for by weight or measure and the
collection of tolls or duties
charged or collected according
to weight or measure.
Section 34—Repeals and Savings.
(1) The following enactments are
hereby repealed:—
section 27 of the Towns Ordinance
(Cap. 86);
section 138 of the Criminal Code,
1960 (Act 29);
Weights and Measures Act, 1964
(Act 255).
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of
the Weights and Measures Act, 1964
(Act 255), and notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this
Decree, the use of any weight or
measure authorised by the Weights
and Measures Act, 1964 shall be
lawful up to the 31st day of
August, 1975.
Provided that on and after the 1st
day of September, 1975 only the
International System of Units as
prescribed by this Decree shall be
used.
(3) Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing provisions of this
Decree, no prosecution shall be
brought for any offence under this
Decree until after such date as
the Commissioner may specify by
legislative instrument.
FIRST SCHEDULE
PART I
S.I. UNITS OF MEASUREMENT—THE
BASIC UNITS
Quantity
Name of
Unit Unit
Symbol
Length .. ..
.. .. ..
.. metre .. ..
.. m
Time .. ..
.. .. ..
.. second .. ..
.. s
Mass .. ..
.. .. ..
.. kilogram ..
.. kg
Electric current
.. ..
.. .. ampere
.. .. ..
A
Thermodynamic temperature
.. .. ..kelvin
.. .. ..
K
Luminous intensity
.. .. ..
..candela ..
.. cd
PART 2
SUPPLEMENTARY AND DERIVED UNITS
Plane angle ..
.. ..
.. radian ..
.. ..
.. rad
Solid angle ..
.. ..
.. steradian
.. ..
.. sr
Area ..
.. ..
.. square metre
.. .. ..
m²
Volume ..
.. ..
.. cubic metre
.. ..
.. m³
Angular velocity ..
.. .. radian
per second .. .rad/s
Angular acceleration
.. .. radian
per second squared rad/s²
Velocity ..
.. ..
.. metre per
second .. . m/s
Acceleration ..
.. .. metre
per second squared
m/s²
Frequency ..
.. ..
hertz .. ..
.. Hz(1 Hz=1s-¹)
Rotational frequency
.. ..
reciprocal second
.. .s-¹
Density ..
.. .. ..
kilogram per cubic
metre ..kg/m³
Momentum .. ..
.. ..
kilogram metre per second .kg.m/s
Angular momentum
.. ..
kilogram metre squared per
second. kg.m²/s
Moment of inertia
.. ..
kilogram metre squared ..
kg.m²
Force ..
.. ..
.. newton
.. .. ..
.N(N=kg.m/s²)
Moment of force ..
.. ..
newton metre ..
.. .N.m
Pressure, stress ..
.. .. newton
per square metre .N/m
Kinematic viscosity
.. .. metre
squared per second .m²/s
Dynamic viscosity ..
.. .. newton
second per metre squared
Ns/m²
Surface tension ..
.. .. newton
per metre .. ..N/m
Work, energy ..
.. ..
joule .. ..
.. .. J(J=Nm)
Power ..
.. ..
.. watt
.. ..
.. .. W(W=J/s)
Impact strength ..
.. .. joule
per square metre .. J/m²
Temperature ..
.. ..
degree Celsius ..
.. ..ºC
Temperature interval
.. .. kelvin
degree Celsius .. .K,
ºC
Quantity of heat
.. .. ..
joule .. ..
.. .. J
Linear expansion
co-efficient
..
reciprocal kelvin
.. ..K-¹
Heat flow rate ..
.. ..
watt .. ..
.. .. W
Density of heat flow rate
.. .. Watt
per square metre ..W/m²
Thermal conductivity
..
.. watt per
metre kelvin W/(mK)
Co-efficient of heat
transfer
.. watt per
square metre kelvin.
W/m²K
Heat Capacity ..
..
.. joule
per kelvin .. ..
..J/K
Specific heat capacity
..
.. joule per
kilogram kelvin .J/kg K
Entropy .. ..
.. ..
joule per kelvin ..
.. ..J/K
Specific entropy ..
..
.. joule per
kilogram kelvin J/kg K
Specific energy, specific latent
heat. joule
per kilogram ..
.J/kg
Quantity of electricity, electric
charge. coulomb ..
.. ..
..C=As
Volume density of charge, charge
density coulomb per cubic
metre C/m³
Surface density of charge
.. .. coulomb per
square metre C/m²
Electric field strength
.. .. ..
volt per
metre
V/m
Electric tension, potential
difference,. volt
... .. ..
.. V=W/A
electromotive force
Displacement (electric) ..
.. .. coulomb per
square metre C/m²
Electric flux, flux of
displacement
coulomb .. ..
.. C
Electric capacitance
.. .. ..
Farad .. ..
.. .. F
Electric permittivity ..
.. .. farad
per metre .. ..
.. F/m
Electric polarization
.. .. ..
coulomb per square metre
.. C/m²
Electric dipole moment ..
.. .. coulomb
metre .. ..
.. Cm
Current density
.. ..
.. ampere
per square metre ..
A/m²
Linear current density ..
.. .. ampere per
metre .. ..
A/m
Magnetic field strength
.. .. ampere per
metre .. ..
A/m
Magnetic potential difference
.. .. ampere
.. .. ..
.. A
Magnetic flux density, magnetic
induction tesla ..
.. .. T(IT=1 Wb/m²)
Flux of magnetic induction,
magnetic flux weber ..
.. ..
Wb(1Wb=IVs)
Magnetic vector potential ..
.. .. weber per
metre
. Wb/m
Self inductance, mutual
inductance .. henry
.. .. ..
..H(1H=IVs/A)
Permeability .. ..
..
.. henry
per metre ..
.. H/m
Electromagnetic moment, magnetic
moment ampere metre squared
.. .. A/m²
Magnetization ..
.. .. ampere
per metre ..
.. A/m
Magnetic polarization
..
.. tesla
.. ..
.. ..
T
Magnetic dipole moment
.. ..
Newton metre squared
Nm²/A
per ampere or weber
metre. Wbm
Impendence, reactance, modulus
ohm
a (a=V/A)
of impendence ..
.. .. ..
.. ..
.. ..
Admittance, susceptance,
conductance reciprocal ohm
.. .. ..
a-1
Apparent power
.. .. .. volt
ampere .. ..
.. VA
Reactive power ..
..
.. Var
.. .. ..
.. Var
Diffusion coefficient ..
..
.. square
metre per second ..
m²/s
Thermal diffusion
co-efficient ..
square metre per second
.. m²/s
Luminous flux .. ..
.. .. lumen
.. .. .. 1m
(11m=1cd sr)
Luminance .. ..
.. .. candela
per square metre .. cd/m²
Illumination ..
.. ..
.. lux
.. .. ..
lx (1 lx=1m/m²)
Activity of radionuclides
..
..
reciprocal second
.. .. s-¹
PART 3
UNITS WHICH MAY BE USED IN
CONJUNCTION WITH BASIC UNITS AND
SUPPLEMENTARY AND DERIVED UNITS
Quantity
Name of Unit Unit
Symbol
Time .. ..
.. .. minute ..
.. .. .. min.
hour .. ..
.. .. h
day .. ..
.. .. d
week
.. .. .. ..
week
month .. ..
.. ..month
year .. ..
.. .. year
Mass .. ..
.. .. tonne
.. .. ..
.. t
carat .. ..
.. .. carat
Radian .. ..
.. .. grade ..
.. .. ..
g
second .. ..
.. .."
minute .. ..
.. ..'
degree .. ..
.. ..º
Area .. ..
.. .. hectare
.. .. ..
..ha
are .. ..
.. ..a
Volume ..
.. .. litre
.. .. ..
..l
Velocity ..
.. .. kilometre per
hour .. km/h
Rotational frequency.. ..
revolution per minute
.. r.p.m.
Pressure, stress ..
.. bar ..
.. .. ..bar
Viscosity:
Kinematic ..
.. .. centistokes
.. .. ..cSt
Dynamic ..
.. .. centipoise
.. .. ..cP
Work, energy ..
.. kilowatt hour
.. .. ..kWh
electron volt ..
.. ..eV
Activity of radionuclide
.curie .. ..
.. ..ci
PART 4
MULTIPLES AND SUBMULTIPLES OF
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
The names of the multiples and
sub-multiples of the units of
measurement are formed by means of
the following prefixes:—
Factor by which
the
Prefix
Symbol
units multiplied
1012
.. .. ..
.. .. .. tera
.. .. ..T
109
.. .. ..
.. .. .. giga
.. .. . G
106
.. .. ..
.. .. ..
mega .. ..
. M
10³ .. ..
.. .. ..
kilo ..
.. k
10² .. ..
.. .. ..
hecto ..
.. h
10 ..
.. ..
.. .. deca
.. .. .. da
10-¹ .. ..
.. .. ..
deci ..
.. d
10-² .. ..
.. .. ..
centi ..
.. .. c
10-³ .. ..
.. .. ..
milli ..
.. m
10-6
.. ..
.. .. ..
micro ..
.. p
10-9
.. ..
.. ..
.. nano ..
.. ...n
10-12
.. ..
.. .. ..
pico ..
.. . p
10-15
.. ..
.. .. ..
femto ..
.. f
10-18
.. ..
.. .. ..
atto ..
.. a
APPENDIX
(i)
Definition of Basic Units
The metre (m): unit of length. The
metre is the length equal to
1,650,763.73 wavelengths in vacuum
of the radiation corresponding to
the transition between the levels
2p10 and 5d5 of the krypton-86
atom.
The second (s): unit of time
interval. The second is the
duration of 9,192,631,770 periods
of the radiation corresponding to
the transition between two
hyperfine levels of the ground
state of the caesium-133 atom.
The kilogram (kg): unit of mass.
The kilogram is equal to the mass
of the international prototype of
the kilogram.
The ampere (A): unit of electric
current. The ampere is that
constant current which, if
maintained in two straight
parallel conductors of infinite
length, of negligible circular
cross-section, and placed 1 metre
apart in a vacuum would produce
between these conductors a force
equal to 2 x 10-7 newton per metre
of length.
The Kelvin (K): unit of
thermodynamic temperature. The
Kelvin is the fraction 1/273.16 of
the thermodynamic temperature of
the triple point of water.
The candela (cd): unit of luminous
intensity. The candela is the
luminous intensity, in the
perpendicular direction, of a
surface of 1/600,000 square metre
of a black body at the temperature
of freezing platinum under a
pressure of 101,325 newtons per
square metre.
(ii) Definition of
Supplementary Units
The Radian (rad): unit of plane
angle. The angle between two
radii of a circle which cut off on
the circumference an arc equal in
length to the radius.
The Steradian (sr): unit of solid
angle. The solid angle which,
having its vertex in the centre of
a sphere, cuts off an area of the
surface of the sphere equal to
that of a square having sides of
length equal to the radius of the
square.
SECOND SCHEDULE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES FOR USE FOR
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
PART 1
LINEAR MEASURES
Measures of —
20 metres
10 metres
3
metres
2
metres
1
metre
1
decimetre
1
centimetre
PART 2
SQUARE MEASURES
Any measures of, or of any
multiple of, 1 square decimetre.
PART 3
CUBIC MEASURES
Measures of—
Any multiple of 10 cubic
decimetres
10 cubic decimetres
5
cubic decimetres
2.5 cubic decimetres
2
cubic decimetres
1
cubic decimetre
1,000 cubic centimetres
250 cubic centimetres
200 cubic centimetres
100 cubic centimetres
50 cubic centimetres
25 cubic centimetres
20 cubic centimetres
10 cubic centimetres
5
cubic centimetres
2
cubic centimetres
1
cubic centimetre
PART 4
WEIGHTS
(a) For dealings in articles or
things other than precious metals
and precious stones.
Weights of—
20 kilograms
10 kilograms
5 kilograms
1 kilogram
500 grams
200 grams
100 grams
50 grams
20 grams
10 grams
5
grams
2 grams
1 gram
500 milligrams
200 milligrams
100 milligrams
50 milligrams
20 milligrams
10 milligrams
5
milligrams
2
milligrams
1
milligram
(b) For dealing involving precious
metals and precious stones
Weights of—
500 carats (metric)
200 carats (metric)
100 carats (metric)
50 carats (metric)
20 carats (metric)
10 carats (metric)
5
carats (metric)
2
carats (metric)
1
carat (metric)
0.5 carat (metric)
0.25 carat (metric)
0.2 carat (metric)
0.1 carat (metric)
0.05 carat (metric)
0.02 carat (metric)
0.01 carat (metric)
Note.—1 carat (metric) = 0.2gm.
(exactly)
THIRD SCHEDULE
CONVERSION
PART 1
CONVERSION OF THE VALUES OF SI
UNITS IN TERMS OF THE VALUES OF
OTHER UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
SI Units Other Units Of
Measurement
(a) Length
1
km (kilometre) ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.621371
mile
1
km .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 4.97097
furlongs
1
km .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.539612
nautical mile (UK)
1
km .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.539957 (Int.)
nautical mile
1
m (metre) ..
.. ..
.. ..
0.497097 chain
1
m .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 1.09361
yards
1
m .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 3.28084 feet
1
m .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 4.97097 links
1
m .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.198839 perch
(Pole)
1
m .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.546807
fathom
1
cm (centimetre)
.. ..
.. .. 0.393701
inch
1
m (micrometre)
.. ..
.. .. 0.0393701
milliinch (thou.)
(b) Area
1
km² (kilometre
squared)
.. ..
.. 0.386102 square
mile
1
ha (hectare) ..
.. ..
.. .. 3.86102 x
10-³ square miles
1
ha .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 2.47105
acres
1
ha .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 9.88422
roods
1
ha .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 11.9599
x 10³ square yards
1
m² (metre squared)
.. ..
.. .. 1.19599
square yards
1
m² .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 10.7639
square feet
1
m² .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 2.47105 x 10-³
square chain
1
cm² (centimetre
squared) ..
.. .. 0.1555000
square inch
1
mm² (millimetre
squared) ..
.. .. 1.97353
circular mils
(c) Volume
1
m³ (metre cubed)
.. ..
.. .. 1.30795
cubic yards
1
m³ .. ..
..
.. .. ..
35.3147 cubic feet
1
m³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 27.4962 UK bushels
1
m³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 28.3776 US bushels
1
m³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 3.49157 hog heads
1
m³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 1.74579
pipes
1
m³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.872892 tun
1
dm³ (decimetre
cubed)
.. ..
.. 0.264172 US gallon
1
dm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.219969
UK gallon
1
dm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 2.11338
US liquid pints
1
dm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 1.75976
UK pints
1
dm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.879878
UK quart
1
dm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.109984
peck
1
dm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 7.03903
gills
1
dm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. ..
0.00343701 quarter
1 cm³ (centimetre
cubed)
.. ..
.. 0.0610236 cubic
inch
1 cm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. ..
0.0351951 UK fluid ounce
1 cm³ .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.281561
fluid drachm
1 cm³ (millimetre cubed)
.. ..
.. .. 0.0168936 UK
minim
(d) Mass/Weight
1
tonne ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.984203
ton (long)
1
kg .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 1.10231 x 10 ton
(short)
1
kg .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.984203 x 10 ton
(long)
1
kg .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.0196841
hundredweight (cwt)
1
kg .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.0220462 cental
1
kg .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.0787364
quarter
1
kg .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.157473
stone
1
kg .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 2,20462
pounds
1
g (gram) ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.035274
ounce (avoir)
1
g .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.564383 dram
(dr.)
1
g .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 5.000 carats
(metric)
1
g .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.257206 drachm (apoth)
1
g .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.0321507 ounce (apoth)
1
g .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.771617
scruple
1
g .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.6643017
pennyweight (dwt)
1
g .. ..
.. ..
.. .. 15.4324
grains
1
carat ..
.. ..
.. .. 3.08647
grains
PART 2
CONVERSION OF THE VALUES OF OTHER
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT IN TERMS OF
THE S I UNITS
(a) Length
Other Units of
Measurement S1
Units
1
mile ..
..
.. .. ..
1.60934 km
1
furlong ..
..
.. ..
.. 0.201168
km*
1
chain ..
..
.. .. ..
20.1168 m*
1
yard ..
..
.. .. ..
0.9144 m*
1
foot ..
..
.. .. ..
0.3048 m*
1
inch ..
..
.. .. ..
25.4mm* = 2.54 cm*
1
milliinch ..
..
.. ..
.. 25.4m*
1
(UK) nautical
mile
.. ..
.. 1.85318 km
1
fathom ..
..
.. .. ..
1.8288 m*
1
link ..
..
.. .. ..
0.201168 m*
1
perch (Pole)
..
.. ..
.. 5.0292 m*
(b) Area
1
square mile
..
.. ..
.. 2.58999km² =
258.999ha
1
acre ..
..
.. .. ..
4,046.86m² = 0.404686ha
1
rood ..
..
.. .. ..
1,011.71m²
1
square yard
..
.. ..
.. 0.836127 m²
1
square foot
..
.. ..
.. 0.0929030m = 929.030
cm²
1
square inch
..
.. ..
.. 645.16 mm² = 6.4516
cm²*
1
square chain
..
.. ..
.. 404.686 m²
1
circular mil
.. ..
.. ..
506.707 m²
(c) Volume
1
cubic yard ..
.. ..
.. ..
0.764555 m³
1
cubic foot ..
.. ..
.. ..
0.0283168 m³
1
cubic inch .. ..
..
.. ..
16.3871 cm³
1
barrel (US) (for petroleum)
.. ..
.. 0.158987 m³
1
bushel ..
.. ..
.. ..
0.0363687 m³
1
peck ..
..
.. ..
.. 9.09218 dm³
1
gallon ..
.. ..
.. .. 4.54609 dm³
1
gallon (US)
.. ..
.. ..
3.78541 dm³
1
quart ..
.. ..
.. .. 1.13652 dm³
1
pint ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.568261
dm³
1
gill ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.142065
dm³
1
fluid ounce
.. ..
.. ..
28.4131 cm³
1
fluid drachm
.. ..
.. ..
3,551.63 mm³=3.55163
cm³
1
minim ..
.. ..
.. ..
59.1939 mm³
1
hog head
.. ..
.. ..
286.404 dm³
1
quarter ..
.. ..
.. .. 290.950 dm³
1
pipe ..
.. ..
.. ..
572.808 dm³
1
tun ..
.. ..
.. .. 1,145.616
dm³
(d) Mass/Weight
1
ton (long)
..
.. ..
.. 1,016.05 kg=1.01605
tonne
1
hundredweight
..
.. ..
.. 50.8023 kg
1
cental ..
.. ..
.. ..
45.3592 kg
1
quarter ..
.. ..
..
.. 12.7006 kg
1
stone ..
.. ..
.. ..
6.35029 kg
1
dound ..
.. ..
.. ..
0.45359237 kg*
1
ounce .. ..
..
.. .. 28.3495
g
1
dram ..
.. ..
.. ..
1.77185 g
1
grain ..
.. ..
.. ..
64.7989mg=0.323995 carat
1
carat ..
.. ..
.. .. 0.2
g
1
ounce (apoth)
..
.. ..
.. 31.1035 g
1
drachm ..
..
.. ..
.. 3.88973 g
1
scruple ..
..
.. ..
.. 1.29598 g
1
pennyweight (dwt)
.. ..
.. 1.55517
1
ton (short)
..
.. ..
.. 907.185kg
Note.—Accuracy of values quoted:
Some of the factors relating
common usage units and metric
units can be expressed exactly and
these are marked with asterisks.
In other cases where the number
does not terminate or only
terminates after many digits, not
more than 6 significant figures
are quoted and the last figure
given in the numeral which best
represents the true value.
Made this 16th day of April, 1975.
COLONEL I. K. ACHEAMPONG
Chairman of the National
Redemption Council
Date of Gazette Notification: 25th
April, 1975.
amended
by
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (AMENDMENT)
LAW, 1992 (PNDCL 301)1. |
