Ahmed Ibrahim: Big Push offers major opportunities for local contractors
As government prepares to roll out some of its biggest infrastructure projects in years, Works and Housing Minister Ahmed Ibrahim says the real measure of success will not only be the roads and facilities delivered, but also the number of Ghanaian construction firms that emerge stronger from the process.
Speaking at a forum organised by the Ghana National Chamber of Construction Industry, the minister argued that flagship programmes such as the Big Push, the Accra-Kumasi Expressway and initiatives linked to the 24-hour economy should become platforms for growing local construction capacity.
Rather than concentrating opportunities among a small number of firms, he said major projects should be structured in a way that allows indigenous contractors to participate, gain experience and expand their operations.
Ahmed Ibrahim stressed that subcontracting must be viewed as a strategic development tool. According to him, involving smaller local firms in large projects can help transfer skills, expose businesses to new technologies and position them to take on bigger contracts in the future.
He also identified access to financing as one of the major obstacles confronting Ghanaian contractors, calling for stronger support systems, including affordable equipment financing, insurance arrangements, guarantees and timely payments for completed work.
The minister further encouraged local firms to explore partnerships and consortium arrangements to strengthen their competitiveness and improve their ability to execute large-scale projects.
He also challenged international construction companies operating in Ghana to play a greater role in developing local enterprises through joint ventures and technology-sharing arrangements.
The discussion comes amid concerns that thousands of registered contractors are not benefiting directly from ongoing public infrastructure projects.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Chamber of Construction Industry, Emmanuel Cherry, said only a relatively small number of contractors are currently engaged on major government projects despite the large pool of registered firms in the country.
He argued that requiring lead contractors to work with additional local subcontractors would spread opportunities more broadly across the industry and help ensure that government investment in infrastructure also contributes to the growth of Ghanaian-owned construction businesses.
The Chamber believes such an approach would create jobs, strengthen local expertise and leave a lasting impact on the construction sector beyond the completion of individual projects.
Source: CNR
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