The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), says it is ready to collaborate with the government to fulfill its infrastructure agenda.

Mr Prosper Yao Ledi, the association president said the group had begun engaging key stakeholders to procure state-of-the-art equipment for members to enable them to undertake major projects in the country.

At the association’s end of year get-together he said; “Our agenda is to secure relevant machinery so that our members can hire them to undertake major projects, so government should recognise our readiness and work with us.”

On the unlevel playing field for indigenous contractors and the government’s preference for their foreign counterparts, Mr Ledi conceded that the misconduct of some indigenous players had negatively affected their image, but noted that it should not define all of them.

Mr Ledi lauded the series of “Made in Ghana” campaigns in recent times to drive the consumption of Ghana rice, adding that such a campaign must be comprehensive and extend to all sectors, so that Ghana’s products and services would be preferred ahead of foreign counterparts.

“If we have to stop the perennial depreciation of the cedi and high unemployment, then the Made in Ghana campaign must cover everything and we are putting our house in order for that to happen,” he said.

The ABCECG President commended foreign contractors who are registered with the Association saying their action is worthy of emulation and urged other foreign construction firms operating in the country to comply and get registered.

Delayed payments and nonpayment of interest on delayed arrears have been major challenges that contractors have been battling over the years.

Mr Ledi said the pain of the arrears are debilitating and that the Association would continue to engage government to end the practice, adding that it was a major agenda for the coming year.

The ABCECG President said 2020 would also be used to pursue the setting up of the Construction Industry Development Authority, which he explained, had been on the drawing board for far too long.

“The building and civil engineering contractors are hopeful of a better year and will do all that is within their power to be credible partners in the development of the country’s infrastructure,” Mr Ledi added.