Local contractors demand more jobs from gov’t

Members of the Ghana Contracts Monitoring Group (GCMG) have appealed to government to ensure that local contractors were given a fair deal in the award of contracts in the country.

The Group said it was disheartening to note that foreign contractors were given much preference in the award of contracts in the country.

A communiqué issued to the press during their review programme, said it was unfortunate that most Ghanaians who were involved in projects executed by foreign contractors were usually low level staffers who work as assistants to the expatriates.

They also appealed to government to promptly release funds to local contractors to enable them to execute their projects on time, as the lack of fund was a major hindrance to speedy completion of projects.

The group also called on contractors to consider the needs of the physically challenged in the construction of roads as most of the road they construct were not accessible to the disabled.

They urged to contractors and project consultants to do well by recruiting Community Relations Officers for their projects in order to enable free flow of information between beneficiary communities and other stakeholders.

Dr Osei Boeh-Ocansey, Chairman, GCMG, said the group was established in 2010 by the World Bank to carry out contract monitoring activities on selected sectors in some countries.

He explained that in Ghana, the Group is made up of Civil Society organizations, the media, government officials and other private organizations.

He said in West Africa, the group exists in three countries namely: Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, adding that, in Ghana, its main function was to oversee the construction of roads and school projects.

He said the group is mandated to improve on the transparency and accountability of public procurement and contracting system in the country.