Works Minister pushes structured subcontracting to grow local contractors

The Minister of Works and Housing, Ahmed Ibrahim, has said projects under the Big Push Infrastructure Programme, the Accra-Kumasi Highway and the 24-hour economy should not only deliver physical infrastructure but also strengthen indigenous businesses and create jobs.

He said this would require a deliberate subcontracting system that gives smaller Ghanaian firms opportunities to work on major projects while gaining the skills, technology and experience needed to expand.

Dangote Refinery IPO: What Ghanaian investors need to know

Speaking at a Stakeholders' Consultative Forum on Structured Project Contracting and Subcontracting organised by the Ghana National Chamber of Construction Industry on Thursday, September 17, 2026, the Minister said the focus must be on developing both infrastructure and local businesses.

“Are we simply building infrastructure? Or are we also building the capacity of Ghanaian enterprises to deliver the infrastructure of tomorrow? For us, the answer must be both,” he said.

Ahmed Ibrahim explained that subcontracting should go beyond simply giving local firms smaller portions of major contracts.

He said the arrangement must be deliberately used to transfer skills and technology while helping indigenous companies grow.

“So, subcontractors should not simply be a mechanism for assigning smaller portions of work to local firms. It should be deliberately used for capacity building, skills transfer, technology acquisition, and enterprise development,” he stated.

The Minister also encouraged local contractors to form partnerships and consortiums to strengthen their technical and financial capacity.

He called for better access to working capital, equipment financing, guarantees, insurance and timely payments.

“Our contractors need access to working capital,” he said, adding that the government must improve procurement and contracting arrangements to support local participation while maintaining transparency, value for money and quality.

He further urged international contractors and investors operating in Ghana to support indigenous firms through joint ventures, technology transfer and the integration of Ghanaian companies into their supply chains.

ANAS/MA

AI Adoption: Businesses must solve real problems, not chase trends – Carlos Amoako