Contractors step up fight for a regulatory body for the industry

Building contractors have stepped up their efforts for an industry regulator to manage and develop the construction industry to ensure its proper development and sustainability.

President of the Association of Building, Civil and Electrical Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), Martins Nnuro, said the absence of a single authority to regulate the construction industry and delayed payment were major setbacks for the industry.

He explained that contractors had been compelled to abandon projects and lay off workers due to delayed payment for work done and that the trend had led to huge loan default by the contractors with far reaching implications for the financial sector.

Mr. Nnuro said contractors were unhappy that there was no single body responsible for the subsector.

“We believe the current situation where aspects of the industry are under the purview of different Ministries and Agencies does not support the development of the industry,” he said.

ABCECG, he said, was currently galvanising support from other contractor associations, to strongly lobby government to make the formation of a regulatory body a reality.

There are also efforts to constitute a Contractors' Association Council to give the contractors a common front.

BUSAC Fund is lending support to ABCECG in the effort to get a regulatory body for the industry and has so far supported capacity building workshops and study tours to South Africa to facilitate the process.

The association has also taken up the issue with the African Federation of Construction Contractors Association with headquarters in Egypt, during the visit of Mr. Nnuro to attend the Federation’s congress last month.**