So the last time I asked a question about why Ghanaians loved to work with artisans from francophone countries like our neighbouring countries and behold I managed to get some responses from some professionals
The answers/responses: It’s a tall list of responses, but for the love of the industry… The first response would definitely tickle you.
This was one suggestion that digressed from construction projects but this is important on knowing the level of discipline the French carry about in all matters, check this;
” Well, I haven’t awarded a contract to a francophone before but I’ve worked with two on a small solar project, and they’re typically like that.
And I sing with a lot of them, even singing with them is hard. Because they won’t let just sing any wrong note and go.”😂 😂
Dauda Touray put it this way;
“I just want to look at other side, like peripheral reasons. I know there are main reasons. However, you work harder when you hustle in someone else’s country. Also General preferences for foreign labour, goods and services by African countries make it so.”👍👍
Below is the most common reason mentioned by professionals and prospective clients who are in the industry:
“Client preference for the French is due to the fact that they charge less and deliver quality”
A group of Ghanaian professionals also say they like working with the French because their tiling and plastering and POP comes with a finesse quality. A possibly good reason to justify why Ghanaians love French Tilers
According to Kofi Addae who is a experienced quantity surveyor,
“The French still adopt the imperial system of construction
So more likely they understand why things have to be done with in a classic touch. They know and apply where necessary the basic knowledge in evolution of construction”.✅
Similar responses from the XYZth person:
I don’t think it will end anytime soon.They serve as a means of cheap labour but they do quality work.
Another professional who is into scaffolds says,
“the thing is they get into apprenticeship at a very early age. So they gain more experience by the time they grow into the trade”
The truth is that is you’ve worked with the French they’re more discipline and a common trait in majority of them is that they always wanna do everything on point. That’s a fact. And they’re disciplined nature makes them do what’s right and saves everyone trouble. My take based on my experience with them.
(Another comment)
So this is what a procurement expert told me. In the area of electricity transmission tower construction, the Ghanaian artisan barely know the job. The few who do claim to be afraid of height. The recurring reason seems to be complacency and training system.
In the francophone countries, apprenticeship is key to their informal technical sector.
In our case (in Ghana), people who gained their skills from apprenticeships are not regarded in good light and they are always shortchanged. The expatriates are fast and all they care about is the job and the money. The indigenous people in Ghana on the other hand feel they deserve better. Most contractors look at cost benefit which also includes timely project deliveries. They’d rather use expatriates who are in for a fair price and can deliver in time
All these responses from typical Ghanaians just show one thing.
That at least we encourage quality work. And it doesn’t end here because Nigerians and other African countries also import our skilled labour to work on their projects. Masons and carpenters are mostly imported by other African countries so generally this reflects something positive about the Ghanaian professional body. Our ability to see understand quality and to demand for quality.
Any input from your end on this post? Comment below
