In a bid to ensure discipline in the construction industry, a bill that would warrant the establishment of a regulatory body for the sector has been drafted.
Speaking at press briefing held by the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GhCCI) on Wednesday, the Acting Chairman for the Chamber, Surveyor Emmanuel Tetteh Martey said the draft developed has been submitted to the oversight ministry for review and further action.
“It is expected that the establishment of the GhCCl and subsequent establishment of the Construction lndustry Development Authority, will ensure sanity in the industry and thereby promote the activities of the respective associations and their respective constituent members operating in the sector,” Martey said.
Ghana’s construction industry is an important part of the national economy with the industry contributing GHc 3,175 million in 2017 to Gross Domestic Product. In certain years, the industry contributes over 15 percent of Gross Domestic Product for the country and has the potential to drive the nation’s economic growth with support from government.
Ghana being in need of heavy infrastructure, there is need for a body to prescribe content which goes in to its highways, roads, hospitals, power plants, dams and housing.
The establishment of the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) will also enable development while ensuring compliance with regulations, standards and codes to guide best practices and procedures in the industry.
The regulatory body when birthed would advise government on relevant aspects of the construction industry, register contractors, consultants and enterprises linked to the construction industry, as well as suppliers of materials.
Players in the sector believe with the establishment of the Authority they can compete with foreign firms that benefit from the protectionist policies of their governments.
Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry
The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GhCCl) was established based on the recommendation from the relevant stakeholders to have a united front that will key inn all the relevant stakeholders in the Construction Industry such as Professional Bodies, Building and Road Contractors, various Artisanal Associations and many others in the Built Environment.
Primarily the Chamber is to provide a platform for canvassing the systematic and coordinated development of public infrastructure; facilitate the creation of enabling conditions for developing private infrastructure as well as engaging government (and its agencies) on finding innovative solutions to address the challenges to infrastructure delivery, acting through its accredited representatives as the case may be.
The GhCCI was duly incorporated on the 3th May 2018 with its membership as follows; Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP), Association of Building and Civil Eng. Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), Association of Road Contractors (ASROC), Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA), Artisans Association of Ghana (AAG), among others.
By Joshua W. Amlanu
