Contractors want improved licencing regime

Contractors want improved licencing regime

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG) has called on government to monitor the performance of contractors before their licences are upgraded and renewed.

Last week the Contractors Association launched the first National Excellence Awards for Building and Civil Contractors in Accra, which it hopes will bring competition into the industry in a bid to improve its performance.

“The entire industry needs to be regulated properly. All engineers, architects, surveyors, planners, contractors, consultants, builder and others must come together to form a coalition to maintain sanity in the system.

“There is the need to review and improve on the process of registration of contractors to reflect best practices in the world and eradicate all unqualified members from the system,” said the Chairman of the Technical Committee of ABCECG, Rockson Dogbegah.

Mr. Dogbegah added that beyond the registration of contractors, it will also be proper to ensure that the performance of contractors is continuously monitored to serve as a basis for licence-upgrades and renewals.

He said in addition to registration, the Ministry should undertake physical inspection of the offices and equipment of contractors before and after registration, provide for training of contractors and retooling of contractors.

He added that the registration of contractors and renewal of their licences must be done in consultation with the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG).

“Membership of ABCECG must be a requirement for the registration of contractors to facilitate joint monitoring of performance and sanctioning of non-performing contractors,” he said.

Edward Amanor, president of the Association, has also called for an independent regulatory body to regulate the sector, ensure high standards and bring sanity into the system.

This, it is believed, will provide an avenue for contractors who feel unfairly treated and private individuals who feel hard-done by a contractor to seek redress.

“Lack of an independent regulator makes the industry susceptible to infiltration by unqualified persons who tarnish the image of genuine professionals.

The awards ceremony, which will be held at the Banquet Hall of the State House on the 8^th December, is seen as a motivation for members and stakeholders to enhance their performance.

It will also be a development that will lead to a significant improvement in service delivery in the construction industry, which will in turn lead to correction of the perceived negative public image associated with the industry.

Under the award scheme, all contractors will be invited into a competition and the best recognised and awarded.

Participants will be competing for awards for outstanding quality of work and workmanship; outstanding time and site management; outstanding health safety and environmental management; outstanding corporate social responsibility - local and foreign categories; and the ultimate prize of the National Building Contractor of the Year.

Kimo introduces new products

Kimo introduces new products

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Kimo Home, a retailer of tiles and sanitary-ware in Ghana, has organised a one-day seminar in Accra to interact with architects, contractors and real-estate developers in the country and display their products to them.

The Head of Advertising and Business Support, Kimo Home, Wendy Jemilat Bello, said the seminar was a platform to showcase the quality brands of products they have in stock to industry players and the general public.

“Kimo deals with brands that have international acclaim and certification and have been in existence for a very long time in the home industry.

“Kimo does not deal in imitation goods and that is why we are number-one when it comes to finishing products for your homes,” she said.

The company has recently added complete kitchen sets, window blinds and electrical accessories to their range of products.

Some of the brands of furnishing products that Kimo deals in include Ideal Standards, Grohe, Franke, Certikin, CRW-UK, Forma and Click.

A Fellow of the Ghana Institute of Architects, Daniel Golotey said: “I appreciate the effort by Kimo in bringing up this seminar to educate us and display their products to us. We now know where to go when we done with our buildings.

“I urge Kimo to do this at least once a year so that new contractors and architects coming into the system will know where to go at anytime,” he added.

Kimo Home has been in Ghana for the past 20 years, and aims at providing luxury to all homes in Ghana at affordable prices.

They currently have three offices and showrooms: at Osu, Spintex Road, and the South Industrial Area.

Stationery for Jamestown children

Stationery for Jamestown Children

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Gateway for Youth, a non-governmental organization, has donated stationery worth Ghc 500 to support the education of 184 children in Jamestown, a suburb of Accra.

The donation which was received by Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF), on behalf of the children was to ensure that, children who already are receiving support do not drop out of school but rather have an opportunity to continue their education.

The items include, exercise and textbooks, school bags, pencils, pens, math sets, colour pencils, and erasers.

Presenting the items, Samuel Paulos, Founder and Director of Gateway for Youth, reiterated the mission of the organization, which he said is to identify and help the youth explore their full potential and talents in order to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.

He hoped that the items will go a long way to help the youth in pursuing their aspirations and he cautioned the children against social vices that will threaten their academic dreams and urged them to concentrate on their education, which he said is the surest ticket to improved circumstances.

“The only way you can make an improvement in your life is through education. Stick to your studies and stay away from bad friends and you must respect your elders and parents so that they will constantly support you,” he said.

The Director of SCEF, Paul Semeh, expressed great appreciation for the gesture and added that the items would be very helpful and advised the children to take good care of them and make full use of them.

He added that due to some of the problems that the youth face, which include lack of educational and recreational materials and parental advice, it makes it difficult for the children to participate fully in class and or engage in meaningful and positive extracurricular activities.

Most of the children who were present at the presentation expressed so much joy to the donors in helping them continue their education smoothly and added that they needed more educational materials.

University of Ghana, HP to raise IT interest

University of Ghana, HP to raise IT interest

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

One of the world’s largest IT companies, Hewlett-Packard (HP), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Ghana (UG) in Accra.

The agreement will allow HP and the university to develop the next wave of technology-experts necessary to ensure Ghana takes full advantage of the economic and social benefits technology can bring to local people, enterprises and government.

Under the agreement, HP and the University of Ghana will create a programme to help students transition from fresh graduates to young IT professionals.

They will also collaborate to develop a Sales university for talented young people who are pursuing a career in the IT sector.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ernest Aryeetey who signed on behalf of the university, said the undertaking is in line with the institution’s programmes and they are very happy to be in such a partnership to enhance academic work.

“Since a university helps generate jobs for its students, we therefore have the opportunity to benefit from this agreement.

“We are happy that our researchers will benefit immensely from the highly-trained and experienced HP staff.

“We expect to see huge enhancement in the laboratories of the engineering and computer science departments of the institution to build the knowledge-base of Ghanaian students,” he said.

Country Director HP Ghana, George Anti Ohene, said HP is dedicated to the enhancement of education, which will boost the prospects of the economy.

“The collaboration with the university is a demonstration of our commitment to investing in Ghana’s future.

“It is a platform for graduates to compete globally, and also an avenue that positions Ghana and Africa to benefit from more investors.

“As a global brand dedicated to bringing out the maximum best wherever we go, we want to develop the best IT professionals in Ghana for HP and the world.

“Therefore, applying our knowledge to the system will help push the economy forward,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, HP has established operations in Ghana with the opening of an office in Accra. Commercial customers in Ghana will now have better access to HP’s portfolio of products and services.

Dr. Anti Ohene said: “HP is proud to establish operations in Ghana at a time when the country is emerging as a high-growth economy.”

“The deployment of HP’s cloud-based and connectivity technologies by the Ghanaian government and local industries can help build a strong IT industry, which in turn generates economic growth and innovative solutions that can make a positive impact in Ghana’s communities.”

DStv Mobile launches Mobile Drifta

DStv Mobile launches Mobile Drifta

By Bernard Yaw Ashiadey

DStv Mobile Ghana has launched a new mobile television decoder, the Drifta, which enables subscribers and non-subscribers to access DStv services anytime, anywhere on many more devices in Accra.

The mobile Drifta receives the DStv mobile broadcast signal known as Digital Video Broadcast Hand-held or DVB-H, and relays this signal over Wi-Fi to a range of Wi-Fi capable devices.

Country Manager of DStv Mobile Ghana, Edward Kwame Owusu, said they are proud to be on the cutting edge of mobile technology and responding to the increasingly mobile culture of Ghanaians.

“Through the Drifta, anyone who signs up to the service in Accra and Tema will be able to watch a selection of DStv channels on mobile devices such as iPads, iphones, iPods, laptops, smart phones and tablets.

He added that there are plans to expand the range of Drifta-compatible devices from the current Windows and iOS devices to include Blackberry, Symbian and Android smart phones.

While non-DStv, subscribers can purchase a drifta and subscribe to one of three bouquets – the free bouquet, the mini and maxi bouquet, DStv Premium subscribers on the other hand, will have access to the Maxi Plus bouquet at absolutely no additional charge after purchasing the Drifta hardware.

The Deputy Minister of Communications, Emmanuel Atukwei Armah, said the government has been encouraging innovation and investment in the country as one of the key drivers for development and job-creation.

“Information Communication Technology is a major facilitator of economic and social development for the country. The widespread availability of affordable, high-speed telecommunications (broadband) infrastructure and services is critical to support growth and development.

“ICT is also an important tool for increased efficiency and transparency in the public sector, and grants citizens common access to public services by making information readily available for decision-making (e-Governance).

“It is therefore in line with the coordinated programme of Economic and Social Development Policies of Ghana, from which the agenda for a shared growth and social development policies are drawn. Accelerated development of ICT infrastructure is mentioned as a major catalyst for Ghana’s modernisation and rapid growth,” he said.

Mr. Armah added that the government, through the Ministry of Communication, has continuously supported and encouraged companies like MultiChoice Ghana in developing their business for many years, and has also ensured that Ghana is abreast with current information, entertainment through modern technology.