BY BILAL DERSO
JIJIGA – Ethiopian Construction Works Regulatory Authority (CWRA) claimed that some improvements have been witnessed in the quality of construction works due to its establishment.
The authority is holding a two-day consultative forum with stakeholders from Somali and Harari states as well as Dire Dawa city administration in Somali State capital Jijiga under the motto ‘Effective Construction Industry for Ethiopia’s Prosperity.’
In his opening remark at the forum on Monday, CWRA Director-General Mesfin Negewo said that the authority has been playing a promising role in filling the gap in Ethiopia’s limited experience in construction regulation and management since its formation.
Mesfin stated that since the formation of the authority, five law amendments have been taking place to improve the quality of construction works and currently a bill to construction industry proclamation is tabled to the House of Peoples’ Representatives review.
He further noted that CWRA has made commendable efforts in improving the quality of construction works through putting supervision of the designing, consultancy, technology as well as capacity of contractors. Also, better results have been demonstrated due to the evaluation of the work of contractors in government-built facilities and other construction projects.
The director-general indicated that consolidated efforts are underway to bolster the authority’s evaluation capacity in the pre-construction, construction and post-construction phases. Due attention has been given to the former two owning the fact that they are highly exposed to corruption and maladministration.
By the same token, the authority has been hugely engaged in supervising whether contractors involved in the construction works equipped with the required knowledge and technology and use quality building materials. “Equal consideration has also been given to follow up the capacity of contractors to carry out projects per schedule in a view to awarding the best performers another deal.”
Sharing the above and mentioning the ever-increasing importance of the construction industry for the national economy in terms of GDP share and job creation, Building Works Inspection Director with the authority, Bereket Tezera (Engineer) stated that Ethiopia’s construction sector is not competitive globally.
According to Bereket, poor quality of construction works, which is largely attributed to the sector’s rampant corruption and maladministration, has remained outstanding challenge.
He thus called on all stakeholders to consolidate efforts to address quality-related gaps as well as corruption and maladministration in a view to building a competent construction industry that maintains the country’s rapid economic growth.
The Ethiopian Herald February 17/2021
