Appoint competent mangers - Contractors advised

Gyatekrom (C/R), Feb. 27, GNA - Road contractors have been urged to resist the temptation of appointing family members who are not technically or administratively qualified to managerial positions in their companies.

Dr Kwabena Donkor, a consultant, gave the advise when he closed a five-day workshop for 18 road contractors from the Central and the Western Regions at Gyatekrom, near Winneba Junction on Friday. The workshop was to help the participants to upgrade their managerial and technical knowledge and skills to promote their businesses.

Dr Donkor who was the resource person explained that in most cases contractors, who appointed their close relatives who did not possess the requisite administrative knowledge and technical skills to handle their businesses often landed such companies in great problems. He noted that for contractors to operate successfully, they must be "all-round persons" prepared to go down and effectively cooperate with their workers in the field to become their role models. Dr Donkor said this would promote and sustain teamwork for the speedy and efficient execution of contracts. He charged the road contractors to accept the challenge to build up their managerial and technical capabilities to win big contracts, which often went to foreign firms.

Dr Donkor urged them avail themselves with regular training to equip them with modern road construction techniques and skills to win big contracts to strengthen their financial base and credit worthiness. Mr B. K. Nketsiah, Winneba District Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), advised contractors in the construction industry to ensure that they incorporated the necessary fire prevention materials in their work to protect major installations and other building contracts they execute. He also urged road and building contractors to educate their workers on fire prevention techniques to protect life and property.

Mr Kweku Ghartey-Sam, Central Regional Chairman of the Ghana Contractors Association, described the workshop as fruitful and gave the assurance that members of the Association would use the knowledge and skills they had gained at the workshop to improve their performance. Mr Kofi Mintah, former Central Regional Chairman of the Association, charged contractors to sensitise their workers on the dangers of the HIV/AIDS to help stem the spread of the disease.