Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Nii Nortey Dua, has advised plumbers in the country to instill professionalism, integrity and strive to maintain industry standards at all times.

He said the days of plumbing being the sole preserve of the uneducated and school dropped-outs are long gone, and therefore, urged them to achieve excellence in their delivery.

He made this remarks at the 2nd National Plumbers Forum, organized by the Royal Plumbing Engineering College (ROPEC) with the support of Swazlee Ventures, in Accra.

Mr. Nortey Dua asked plumbers to sharpen their skills in other to attract lucrative contracts and businesses around the world.

He advised the participants to discard the notion that government is deliberately awarding plumbing contracts to Chinese companies, to the detriment of the Ghanaian companies.

According to him, government would not hesitate to award contract to domestic companies provided that all necessary requirements are met by those companies. Against that backdrop, the minister challenged plumbers in the country to chart a new course by presenting a common front, which he added, would attract people and business entities.

On his part, the Director of the Royal Plumbing Engineering College (ROPEC), Mr. Joshua Nyamekor, revealed that one of the highest paid professionals in the developed world are plumbers and said the United Nations has recognized the contributions made by plumbers in terms of health and safety all over the world.

This, he said, informed the choice of the United Nations instituting the annual World Plumbers Day in recognition of the contribution of plumbers to world safety and health.

Mr. Nyamekor who is also a plumber and a businessman admonished his colleagues to respect the profession and not to belittle themselves in the midst of other professionals.