Contractors association begins process to get a regulator

The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG) is in discussions with some legal institutions to begin the process of getting government to set up a regulator for the industry.

Mr. Martins Nnuro, National President of ABCECG who announced this during a regional tour said the regulatory body would ensure proper standards and address challenges facing the industry.

The ABCECG, he said, was receiving support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund for its efforts to have a regulator for the industry.

The tour to Koforidua in the Eastern Region and Ho in the Volta Region is part of plans of the new leadership to increase membership and make contractors to be assertive.

Mr. Nnuro said the absence of the regulatory body meant that currently contractors, government and other clients were challenged as to where to seek redress anytime a party to a contract was short changed.

“When government or anybody has a problem with a media house, he or she can go to the National Media Commission, when government or anyone has a problem with a telecommunication network provider, he or she can go to the National Communications Authority, but where would you go when you have problem with a contractor or where would you as a contractor go, if you have been given a raw deal?” Mr. Nnuro asked.

The President of ABCECG said efforts were being made to bring various splinter contractor groups together to form a Contractors Association Council.

The Council, he said, would give contractors a united front to fight for the development of the industry.

Mr. Nnuro said a concept paper for the formation of the Council had been prepared and circulated among the various associations.

Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, said he was encouraged by the contractors’ desire to upgrade their knowledge and seek for excellence.

He challenged them to form partnerships to have the needed financial muscles to take on big projects, adding that with limited resources, government was tempted to accept proposals from foreign firms which want to pre-finance major projects.

Mr. Terlabi explained that it would be better if local construction firms had the capacity to make such offers and encouraged them to have a united front to pursue their interests.

Mr. Rockson Dogbegah, Chairman of the Technical Committee who prepared the Concept Paper for the formation of the Contractors Association Council, told contractors that it was possible to have the body in place by September this year.

He took the contractors through various aspects of contract conditions and urged them to read the documents to know their rights and obligations in a contract.

There were presentations by representatives of Ghana Revenue Authority, Social Security and Insurance Trust and Colina Insurance Group at Koforidua and Ho.

The leadership inaugurated various committees of the association and would continue the tour of the remaining Regions in July. **