Business News of Tuesday, 4 September 2007

Source: GNA

Israeli-based construction company under fire!

We're a reputable international construction company - Sonitra
Accra, Sept. 4, GNA - Sonitra, an Israeli-based construction company, on Tuesday dismissed rumours of bribery in the construction of the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra, saying they executed their projects according to international norms.

It also said it had no knowledge of an alleged change in the design of the exchange, as the Company made its bid for the job based on the design presented to them.

"It must be stressed that all the projects undertaken in Ghana have been awarded in accordance with the rules of international competitive bidding free from political considerations," Mr Jean Claude Kalfa, Managing Director of Sonitra, told a press conference in Accra to celebrate their 15th anniversary of the Company in Accra.
He said the Company's main objective was to win jobs fairly and to do a good job, while facilitating the development of Ghana through the transfer of appropriate technology and technical know-how.
"This is our humble contribution to Ghana's economic progress." Mr Kalfa said the policy of the company's founder, Solel Boneh, to be politically neutral, had enabled it to survive all political changes in the host nations all over the world.
"Sonitra is defined by the quality of its construction work from which it derived its credibility and reputation," he said. "It is abundantly clear that Sonitra, as a reputed international construction company, adheres to the strict ethic of wining and executing contracts on competitive bidding procedures."
Mr. Kalfa said Sonitra, whose cooperation with Ghana dated back some 50 years, first came to Ghana as Solel Boneh on the invitation of Dr Kwame Nkrumah to establish the bridgehead for indigenous participation in the construction industry.
It went into a joint venture partnership with the government to give birth to the Ghana National Construction Company (GNCC), which was involved in the execution of projects such as the runway of the airport in Accra, parts of the Tema Harbour, the Independence Arch, Weija Dam, TUC building, VRA building, Trade Fair Centre and the Kumasi Techiman road.
Mr. Kalfa said the government bought Solel Boneh's shares in GNCC and its name was subsequently changed to State Construction Company. He said since Sonitra returned to Ghana in 1992, it had constructed 16 projects, 10 from 1992 to 2000 and six since 2002.
"All these projects have been funded by international agencies such as Agence Fran=E7aise de Dev=E9loppement, World Bank, Danida, Africa Development Bank and awarded under the rules of these respective organisations."
Mr. Kalfa affirmed support for the social and economic development of the country.