Concerns over delayed payments, urban congestion and the need for deeper public–private collaboration dominated discussions at the 2024–2025 Ghana Construction Industry Excellence Awards held in Accra, as industry leaders and traditional authorities used the platform to press for reforms in Ghana’s construction and infrastructure space.
The event, organised by the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GhCCI) under the theme “Advancing the Construction Industry Through Infrastructure Development – The Big Push Agenda,” brought together government officials, contractors, consultants and traditional leaders to assess the state of the sector and chart a path forward.
The Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, said the construction industry remained central to Ghana’s economic transformation, underpinning job creation, investment and infrastructure delivery. He noted that the government’s Big Push Agenda was designed to deepen collaboration with the private sector to deliver resilient and modern infrastructure across the country.
Mr Adjei assured industry players that the Ministry was working to improve transparency and efficiency in public infrastructure delivery through stronger monitoring systems, quality assurance and streamlined procurement processes. He pledged continued engagement with the GhCCI to tackle persistent challenges such as financing constraints, capacity gaps and regulatory compliance.
While commending award recipients for raising professional standards, several stakeholders drew attention to structural issues undermining the sector. The outgoing Chairman of GhCCI, Nene Emmanuel Tetteh Martey, identified delayed payments for completed works as a major threat to contractors and consultants, stressing that timely public payment was a contractual obligation rather than a discretionary act.
He said the success of the Big Push Agenda depended on structured collaboration throughout the project lifecycle, from planning to execution and payment, and called for improved fiscal discipline and innovative financial guarantees to protect private sector investments.
Urban development challenges also took centre stage, with the Ga Mantse, King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, urging a comprehensive review of Accra’s master plan to address congestion, unplanned settlements, flooding and sanitation problems. He called for coordinated action between government and the private sector to modernise the capital through decongestion strategies, green spaces, improved drainage and efficient transport corridors.
The Ga Mantse also appealed for reforms in land administration, urging traditional authorities to end multiple land sales and disputes that continue to hinder development. He stressed that land must be managed with integrity and foresight to support sustainable urban growth.
The ceremony celebrated excellence across the construction value chain, recognising contractors, engineers, architects and artisans whose work continues to shape Ghana’s infrastructure landscape. JUSTMOH Construction Limited emerged as the Overall Best Construction Company for 2024/2025, while General Contractor Company Limited was named International Construction Company of the Year.
Other award recipients included Mr Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament; Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, President of the National House of Chiefs; and Rockson CKSON Kwesi Dogbegah, Executive Chairman of the Berock Group of Companies.
Organisers said the awards were not only to honour excellence but also to spark critical dialogue on how to strengthen Ghana’s construction industry as a driver of sustainable national development.
