SSNIT GETS TOUGH WITH CONTRACTORS

Ten contractors working on a C200 million Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) housing project at Goaso have been given up to the end of next month to complete their jobs. A re-assessment of their performance by the Architectural and Engineering Services Corporation (AESC), the consultants, would determine how many of the contractors would lose their contracts. At a meeting between the Regional Minister, Mr. David Osei-Wusu, the contractors, officials of the AESC and SSNIT, it was decided that any extra cost due to price fluctuations should be borne by the contractors.

In October 1996, each of the contractors was given one house, comprising two bedrooms and a hall, to complete at a cost of C20 million.

According to Mr. Yaw Oko Agyekum, Brong-Ahafo Regional Manager of SSNIT, the undue delay had seriously affected a programme under which two other districts in the region were to benefit from a similar housing scheme.

A progress report on the jobs indicates that while Asuowam Complex Limited had completed about 62 per cent of its job, the highest so far, Oraku Enterprise has done nothing at all on its allocated plot.

Four others - Nyame Tease Construction Limited, Esteldan Construction, Samalice Construction Works and Makadecfo Construction Works - have each completed only one per cent of their contracts.

The rest have completed between 15 per cent and 30 per cent of the job.

The Regional Minister urged contractors to strive to offer selfless and dedicated service to ensure the steady development of the region.

He told them that the undue delay in the execution of contracts ended to hold back progress and abused the trust reposed in them.