Contractors are backing the establishment of a regulator to ensure proper standards and also address challenges facing the industry.
The move, which forms part of efforts to address complaints of shoddy works, is being championed by the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG).
At an advocacy workshop in the Volta Regional capital, Ho which brought together contractors from different parts of the country, the President of ABCECG, Edward Amanor said the setting up of an independent regulatory body is imperative if high standards are to be attained.
“What we have now is a player acting as a referee. Government gives out most of the contracts, and all the institutions that act as referees are government institutions so obviously we don’t have a good playing field.”
Local contractors have become notorious for undertaking sub-standard construction works, compelling government to choose foreign companies over the local ones to execute major infrastructural projects.
Ghanaian contractors lose out on big projects as a result of this development. It also implies that these local contractors would continue to play second fiddle to their foreign counterparts.
But it appears the local contractors are determined to reverse the trend by supporting the setting up of a regulatory body similar to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
This body, when established, will also receive complaints from parties to a project.
The contractors say when this body is put in place, some of them who have issues with government or any other client can seek redress.
In this vein, government or private businesses can also make complains to this body if a contractor fails to adhere to the tenets of a contract.
They argued that in the wake of several accusations that contractors are delivering shoddy jobs, it will be proper to have an independent referee that would address problems.
The Technical Committee Chairman of ABCECG, Rockson Dogbegah, said Ghanaian contractors are determined to grow and compete with any contractor across the world, adding that instituting a body to regulate the industry is a major step to achieving this objective.
According to him, ABCECG is rebranding and building the capacity of its members to meet international standards.
He hinted that the Association would roll out a major project this year that will improve the status of Ghanaian contractors.
The Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC) is working closely with ABCECG to ensure a strong advocacy for the establishment of an independent regulator for the construction industry.
From Business Desk