Contractors Critique Projects

A number of companies have come together to support this year’s National Contractors Excellence Awards slated for November 9.

However, most practitioners are unhappy with substandard projects being carried out.

Andrea Orlandi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal Aluminium Systems, who recently presented a cheque for GH¢15,000 towards the holding of the awards, said in order to cut cost, some contractors had resorted to low quality products.

He condemned the practice and urged contractors to aspire to carry out quality jobs.

Ben Appah, CEO of B. Appah Electricals Limited, who presented GH¢10,000 towards the event at a separate event, said the drive to discourage shoddy works was a worthy cause and urged contractors to embrace the initiative.

Theophilus Mensah, Deputy Managing Director in charge of Finance and Administration at Tropical Cable & Conductors Limited, said the use of cheap and substandard products was a contributory factor.

Presenting a cheque for GH¢5000 towards the event, he said quality should at all times be ensured to promote excellence.

Mr. Mensah urged the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), which is championing the awards, to work hard to promote quality.

He also asked government to support the growth of the construction industry through prompt payment for work done.

Dora Nkani, acting Managing Director of SIC Insurance, also bemoaned the situation whereby foreign companies undertook the best construction jobs and challenged indigenous companies to build their capacity so as to compete favourably in Ghana and venture into the West African sub-region.

She expressed the belief that her outfit’s donation of GH¢10,000 will go a long way to support the drive to promote excellence in the construction industry.

Mike Thakwani, Managing Director of Steel Company, at a different ceremony, decried delayed payment for goods supplied to contractors, stressing that the practice has had adverse effects on businesses.

The company, which has put up an ultra-modern school complex, donated GH¢5000 towards this year’s awards.

Chairman of the Technical Committee of ABCECG, Rockson Dogbegah, explained that the Excellence Awards was a major vehicle to sanitize the construction industry.

He said indigenous firms need to put their acts together in order to be competitive, stating that the reward of outstanding contactors will motivate many contractors to promote quality.

Mr. Dogbegah therefore challenged both road and building contractors to obtain forms for the awards from the regional offices of the Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL).

He noted that there were 11 award categories up for grabs, adding that contractors have up to the 9th of October, this year to submit their completed forms in order to win an award.

This year’s awards will see foreign participation by the Egypt-based African Federation of Construction Contractors’ Association and other construction associations from South Africa, Tanzania and other countries.