(Govt secures loan to complete work on “Job 600”)

Page 16, Aug 11, 2009
Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has secured a $24-million loan for the completion of rehabilitation works on the State House Tower, popularly known as Job 600.
The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw, who made this known in Accra, said the project was expected to commence soon after a stakeholders’ discussion on the modalities for the completion of the project.
She said such talks could only start when Parliament resumed sitting in October, this year.
The magnificent and imposing Job 600 building was put up in 1965 for the hosting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit, which was chaired by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
When completed, the Job 600 building would provide office accommodation for all the 230 legislators.
Dr Bissiw said the execution of the project had become even more urgent as parliamentarians would soon engage research assistants to help them in their work.
She expressed displeasure at what she said had been an unfortunate spectacle at Parliament House where members virtually used their cars as offices.
Throwing more light on the project, the Chief Technical Advisor (Housing) at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji A. Dawuni, said the ministry decided to go ahead with the rehabilitation work after an assessment and evaluation had revealed that it was strong enough to be used.
The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing says it would have been appropriate if the ministry was given the responsibility to handle the rehabilitation works on the Job 600.
The ministry has, therefore, began discussions with the leadership of Parliament to be given the responsibility to supervise the project.
In interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Albert Abongo confirmed that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) had provided a loan to Parliament for the rehabilitation of the building to be used as offices for Members of Parliament (MPs).
He said the rehabilitation work was initiated by the ministry until Parliament decided to take full responsibility of the work some years ago.
Mr Abongo explained that since it was the ministry which had personnel with the requisite knowledge to take charge of all such projects belonging to the state, it would serve a very good purpose if the ministry was allowed to handle the job.