The Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), has held a training workshop for over 70 quantity surveyors from the 16 regions in the country.
The three-day workshop, according to the Authority, is to sharpen the skills of the quantity surveyors, equip them with modern technologies to better manage, negotiate, supply, and execute all contracts of the Authority effectively and efficiently.
The Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Maintenance at the Ghana Highways Authority Ing. Christian Nti who spoke to the media on the importance of the training program indicated that the personnel who are cost engineers will ensure effective value for money on projects after the training.
“Road projects are highly capital intensive, and therefore those who are supposed to manage the projects are expected to have the required skills to manage it effectively to have value for money, reduce unnecessary payments which are not for the works, and therefore these quantity surveyors who are the cost engineers are supposed to have the skills that will enable them to have the eyes to see excesses and make us get value for money in our project administration in terms of preparation, management and certification of contracts”.
“They are the key personnel that enables the organization to raise an interim certificate, so they are supposed to be upgraded from time to time to enable the organization and government to receive value for money in terms of work done by contractors. In addition, we are also helping them to be abreast with the new skills that are emerging with project management, and therefore we have put together highly skilled resource persons to upgrade their skills in order to meet the current challenges and modern trends that we are moving into.”
He added that “some years back, we were not using technologies so much in project administration, but now we cannot do without it, so now a quantity surveyor is supposed to have enough skills and knowledge about technologies to make sure projects are managed in a more scientific way and estimations are done to the barest deviation so that we do not lose money because this country is an emerging economy and whatever money we spend on road infrastructure is supposed to be managed well, and the quantity surveyors will ensure that”.
On his part, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Highways Authority, Charles Adubofour, who chaired the programme in speaking on the theme, ‘Enhancing the contract administration skills of quantity surveyors’, called on the surveyors to be professional and ensure value for money.
“One of Ghana Highways Authority’s core values is the training of personnel, and it is something GHA has been doing for years through practical experience. I am of the firm belief that at the end of the training program, your skills and knowledge will be well sharpened, and you will be better equipped to manage, negotiate, support, and execute all future GHA contracts effectively and efficiently, so I urge you all to give out your best and remain professionals.”