Contractors (commodities)
Story: Alice Aryeetey
A regulatory framework designed to enhance the image of the construction industry in Ghana is to be established.
The regulatory framework would be a specific response to the general tune of promoting sustainable growth in the sector along the country’s development path, and would provide appropriate legislation for driving best practices in the sector.
The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), that is spearheading the process has called on the Government’s support in that regard.
The construction industry in Ghana holds the key to the development of the nation, but has been left alone without much attention.
 It also contributes to national socio-economic development by providing significant employment opportunities to both the skilled and non-skilled.
It also provides the infrastructure and facilities such as schools, factories, and shops, housing, hospitals, and buildings for national communications network, required for  other sectors of the economy to grow.
According to the General secretary of the construction and building materials workers union of Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Mr Pius Quainoo,the commercial exploitation of oil and gas will stimulate demands in the building and construction industry, and business, as usual cannot take Ghana to the new level of anticipated development.
At a sensitisation forum in Accra by the ABCECG, on the establishment of the regulatory body for the construction industry in Ghana,he said the circumstances in the building and construction sector needs change and improvement.
According to him the Construction Industry Development Board I envisage for Ghana should be a regulator that is insulated from Ministerial control.
“A regulatory framework is required to enhance the image of the sector which has sunk too low”, he added.
Mr Quainoo, said Ghana needs an independent multi-stakeholder regulatory body just as all progressive countries have done for the sector. He advised that the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) should be assigned with a specific agenda and provided with necessary resources and a clearly defined mandate to oversee the development of the industry.
The construction and Building Materials Workers Union of the GTUC proposed that the CIDB should be composed of State Owned Institutions, Private Sector Organisations, Trade unions, and Client Organisations.
He further said that labour representation should not be left out of the composition of the CIDB for Ghana when the law is been put together. “No entity could represent labour better than itself as the largest single civil society organisation”, he added.
The Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, said it is relevant for all stakeholders to support this subject, because it would help address the challenges faced by the association.
 He assured the Association that government has taken the lead in showing commitment in the formulation of policies and establishing institutions to support this cause and make the regulatory body sustainable when set up.