Lack of modern equipment…Bane of Local Mechanics

Mechanics operating within the Tema Metropolis have disclosed that the major problem hindering the smooth running of their businesses are lack of modern equipment. They said, most of the cars coming into the country today are modern and very sophisticated, therefore, one requires modern technology to be able to work on them very effectively.

They have, therefore, called on the government to come to their aid by providing them with modern and new equipment to help in their business.

This was disclosed by Joshua Bortey, head of Borts Mechanic Shop at Community 8, Tema in an interview with the paper last Monday.

According to him, because most of the cars on our markets today require the use of these modern equipment for their repairs, they are loosing all their customers.

Mr. Bortey disclosed that all they do these days is to receive complaints from customers due to their inability to fix their cars, as a result of lack of such equipment.

He continued that if the government can import some of these new equipments into the country and hire them out or sell them at subsidised prices, then their problem would be solved and they would have no need to complain.

Touching on other problems they face in the discharge of their jobs, Mr. Bortey revealed that in recent times they do not get people coming in to learn the trade because all the up and coming youth want to go to the tertiary institutions to be trained there.

According to him, this makes it difficult for them to work since fewer hands are available, thereby slowing down the work process. He also explained that it was very necessary that all the mechanics in Tema come together to form an association to promote the trade and create more opportunities.

He appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to take a critical look at the trade so that more jobs could be created, just as he promised in his manifesto.

Isaiah Maxwell, who is an apprentice at the mechanic shop, stated that he had always wanted to go to school after completing Junior High School but he couldn't because his father is not employed and, therefore, could not afford his tuition fees.

He appealed to the government to create more job opportunities to employ more people.