Since first coming to Ghana just over two years ago I have noticed the cost of a bag of cement has doubled in that time. I would assume other building materials costs have also climbed dramatically.
It is a complete shame that when materials costs are so high or even if they were low for that matter that perfectly good materials costing perfectly good money mostly contribute to perfectly shoddy and perfectly unprofessional construction work providing people with second rate or worse buildings. In some cases “unsafe and dangerous” better describes the building work.
On one of my flights to Ghana I sat near a Ghanaian who had spent many years in the USA where he completed his university degree in plumbing and where he operated his own plumbing business for many years. He was greatly saddened by the gross lack of good construction tradesmen in Ghana. He put the shoddy work down to a lack of trade schools.
In some ways my travelling friend was right, and yes trade schools certainly would help. On my most recent flight into Ghana I sat next to another Ghanaian; A very bright, professional young woman of stunning conversation. She kidnapped me with her comments about the unprofessional attitude of many Ghanaians and their inability to want to learn new and good things. I sat stunned as she rattled off most things that I had personally observed in Ghana. This new travelling friend worked as a Human Resource Manager for a large Ghanaian company.
The stunning conversationalist was right. It is all about “attitude” that is to say the lack of a professional attitude.
Take for example building tradesmen. Most have a total focus on how much money they can get out of you rather than how much better they can do their work. If only they realised by doing a great job they could probably get better paid work.
Recently, I was asked to comment on a new timber ceiling. I was lost for words. When I was asked how could it be fixed I had no other suggestion than to have it pulled down and use the timber for firewood and then start all over again with new timber and a better carpenter. But where does one get a better carpenter, or a better mason or a better plumber or a better electrician, or a better whatever or whoever?
My family and I rent a brand new house. At first glance it looks nice but on closer inspection it is so rough in terms of workmanship that it almost brings tears to the eye. The cost of the building materials for the house though would have been considerable and the owner really deserved to get her money’s worth but alas she is far from that dream.
Trade schools would be great but until then the tradesmen need to take pride in their work and undertake what is called in my country “The Continual Improvement Cycle” or “Plan Do Check Act”
Next time we meet here we will discuss this simple Continual Improvement Cycle as well as “ATTITUDE”, yes “PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE”. If you haven’t got it you need to get it! See you soon.
