Contractors Discuss Problems With Parliament

The Association of Road Contractors (ASROC) has visited the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transportation to discuss the problems affecting road contractors in the country.



The visit also afforded the Committee an opportunity to know at first hand the work of the contractors and how to collaborate with government to improve the road sector.

Mr Joseph Ebo Hewton, Vice Chairman of ASROC appealed to the Ministry of Transportation to restore the advanced mobilisation loans which the Ministry cancelled recently.

He said, 'We are a major stakeholder in the industry, but we are not consulted enough on issues affecting the sector. We have already protested to the Ministry and have called for an audience with the Minister and they are yet to respond'.

On the issue of the award of fixed contracts, Mr Hewton told the Committee, 'We consider this policy punitive because it could lead to the bankruptcy of more indigenous Ghanaian companies'.

He accused some agencies of ill-preparing projects contracts saying, 'In some cases, contract drawings have not resemblance to what is on the ground and delays, occasioned by re-designing, automatically affect project execution periods'.

Mr Hewton said since 201 the payment for contract executions had improved considerably, but there was till room for improvement. He said that the problem of equipment holdings by contractors constituted a major obstacle to the successful execution of projects.

They bemoaned the rate at which basic contract meant for local contractors are awarded to foreign counterparts and urged the Ministry to assist them to get foreign contractors to register with the association since they benefit from their services.