Chief advises contractors not to pay bribes
Nana Dr Osei-Bonsu, the Divisional Chief of Ashanti Juaben, on Thursday, advised contractors to refrain from paying bribes to officialdom to secure contracts since that would eventually hurt them.
Nana Osei-Bonsu, who is also the President of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, entreated contractors to convince the tender committees that award contracts that, they had the competencies to deliver a quality work instead of being favoured and at the end of the day deliver a sub-standard project.
“Don’t pay bribes but let’s convince them that we can do the work and after the work is fully completed and quality work done, and you have so much profit, anyone who helped you in the way, you can buy a nice cloth and say God bless you,” he said.
Nana Osei-Bonsu gave the advice at the 9th Annual Convention and Exhibition of the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), in Accra.
The event was held on the theme: “Promoting an Effective Construction Industry for Sustainable Development-The Need for a Regulator.”
The occasion was also used to launch a five-year strategic plan of the Association that would streamline its activities and equip members to be abreast of the modern trend in the sector and promote creativity and innovation.
Nana Osei-Bonsu added his voice to call for early payment of contractors, saying “construction requires money therefore if government delayed in paying us, it makes it difficult for us to raise money to undertake other projects”.
Mr Martin Kwasi Nnuro, the National President of ABCECG, said the Association would continue to strengthen and collaborate with the governmental agencies for their mutual benefit.
He mentioned delayed payment of projects executed by the members as one of the challenges facing them and expressed optimism that the new government would address it.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremanten, in a speech read on his behalf, pledged government’s commitment to support the establishment of a regulatory body for the construction industry.
The regulatory body, which would be known as Construction Industry Development Authority, would champion the regulation and strategic development of the construction sector and formulation of regulations, standards and codes to guide practices and procedures.
The minister said the regulatory body would also advise government on relevant aspects of the construction industry, register contractors and consultants, and enterprises linked to the construction industry, as well as suppliers of materials, and monitor and control their performances.
He reiterated government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the construction sector to thrive and contribute to the growth of the economy.
Source: GNA