Refurbishment Of Parliament With Chinese Furniture 

The statement by the Chairman of the Parliamentary select committee on Trade and Industry, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho that local furniture companies when contacted to supply furniture for the refurbishment of Parliament indicated their inability to deliver the quantum of seats required within the stipulated is quite fundamental.

The statement if anything to go by should end the furore generated as a result of the furnishing of the chamber of parliament with seats from China.

Speaking on Radio Ghana's Current Affairs Programme, "Focus" Alhaji Sorogho who is also MP for Madina refuted allegations that parliament did not do any due diligence before importing the furniture from China which many people believe is an affront to the made in Ghana campaign
spearheaded by no less a person than the President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama. 

Truly we need to grow what we eat and eat what we grow. Reports that the furniture imported was of poor quality beg the question and go to taint the reputation of the company that was awarded the contract, in the first place, the Parliamentary Board that awarded the contract and the Parliamentary delegation that visited China to inspect the products which comprised both the majority and minority sides. 

Investigations by Radio Ghana indicated that the furniture was brought in knock down and had to be Assembled by Ghanaians. It is possible that during the fixing some screws were not tightened well and could lead to the few mishaps that occurred when people sat on them, Evidence adduced from over investigations reveal that contract for the refurbishment of the Chamber of Parliament was awarded to China state Hualong Construction Ghana Limited which has an untainted track record in Ghana. 

This is a company that has been operating in the country over the past 27 years and has done extremely beautiful projects which have never been questioned. These include the Job 600 rehabilitation project, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Peduase Lodge, Ghana Physicians and Surgeons building, and refurbishment of the Banquet hall of the State House. What we are asking here is, was the decision taken by our law makers in the best interest of the country? Arguments are being made in the public space that the contract if it has been given to a Ghanaian would have led to a lot more job opening given the unemployment situation in the country.

That is fine, but that said it follows that Ghanaian products must also go with some quality because the bottom live in that the customer wants value for money, so if the Chinese products offer us value for money, then the decision to buy made in China goods within a stipulated time makes sense. The other question is, are the Ghanaians companies having the financial where with all to pre-finance the project given the two months time line given the Chinese company. It is good the patriotism fervour is catching up with the Ghanaian but that does not mean we should cut our nose to spite our face.

Competition is good, and healthy so Ghanaian companies must strive to meet international standards and produce quality goods so consumers can have value for money.That is the only way we can halt the huge imports and reduce the pressure on the local currency.Ten blind men
were once asked to examine the elephant and each of them came with a different description. 
Opinions are like noses everybody has one.

Let us therefore respect the opinion of our parliamentarians. Their discretion can be wrong but then it is their discretion which they are entitled to. We have given them the mandate to take decisions on our behalf, we therefore hope they will take the best decision in the over all interest of the nation.

By Justice Mingle A Journalist