By Deborah Asantewaah SARFO
The Ghana Plumbers Association has indicated its plans to create a mutual fund aimed at increasing its members’ access to job opportunities within the plumbing sector.
According to Association president, Eng. Joshua Nyarmavor, a plethora of opportunities exist in the industry yet clients’ growing demand for pre-financing projects impedes members’ ability to access jobs – hence the need for a mutual fund.
Eng. Nyarmavor added that clients’ financial constraints have left most projects unattended to – forcing clients, including government and private institutions, to direct all projects to foreign companies that possess the financial muscle.
“For some of the projects, because clients do not have money they have been halted. Many government projects do not come our way, because they will be looking at pre-financing and wouldn’t even start the discussion with us but rather search for somebody who can fund it,” he explained.
He reiterated that the trend of handing projects to foreigners also tends to negatively affect the country’s economy, since monies paid them are sent to their respective countries.
He believes this challenge will be best addressed by establishing the plumbers’ mutual fund, which will generate funds for members and empower their ability to pre-finance projects.
“We are also working on a plumbers’ mutual fund, whereby we can generate some capital to have a good negotiation with whoever. I think we want to get to a level where even if government won’t give us business, we can source business somewhere else,” he emphasised.
He announced the Association’s intention while speaking on sidelines of the ‘Master Plumbers scale-up roadshow’, a programme organised by the Association designed to upgrade the skills of master-plumbers.
The programme’s maiden edition began in Cape Coast followed by Accra, and it will be replicated across the country’s other regions.
He added that equipping plumbers with the right skills will make them provide service with professionalism and exhibit a positive attitude toward work for the sector to thrive and be recognised as significant.
For policies underway to help sanitise the sector, he indicated that the association is looking at plumbers being licenced – adding that plumbing is a profession which deals with safety.
“Water is life and when is not handled well it can take one’s life. In the same way, plumbing is a profession that deals with safety. So, if we practice plumbing the way it’s supposed to be we will be relieved of so many diseases and all those things,” he explained.
For her part, Portia Obinsrewuo – a plumber and participant in the programme – commended the association for its initiative and called on government to “support and pay attention to the plumbing industry”.
Commenting on the challenges she faces as an individual in a male-dominated industry, she said: “Because of my gender, some people doubt my capabilities and conclude I cannot do the work,” adding that the few who give her an opportunity tend to appreciate her service.
