An ultra-modern multi-purpose office complex being constructed by the Minerals Commission as its Ashanti Regional office is expected to be completed by October this year.
The magnificent eight-story edifice will be ready for use by regional office for its operations in Ashanti Region.
This assurance was given by the project consultant, Mr Osei Tutu, when the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, Damango visited the site to inspect the progress of work on the facility.
The Lands Minister yesterday embarked on an inspection tour of the facility to acquaint himself with the progress of work on the office complex, which, when completed, would become the hub for the Minerals Commission’s regulatory and oversight activities in the Ashanti Region and the middle belt of the country.
Addressing the media after his tour, Mr Jinapor underscored the importance of a fully operational and well-staffed Minerals Commission office in executing their regulatory duties, not only in the Ashanti Region but across the entire middle belt of the country, which includes the Western North and Central regions.
The Minister stated that the government had been on the path to completely decentralise the Minerals Commission, and the construction of the state-of-the-art Ashanti Regional Minerals Commission office was evidence of the government’s commitment and dedication to developing the mining sector.
“I have to commend the CEO of the Minerals Commission, the consultants, the contractors, and everyone who has worked so diligently to ensure that we put up this extraordinary office for the Ashanti Regional Minerals Commission.”
“This is a major investment by the government, I have been told that it is going to be the tallest building in Kumasi. It will be a place where we can conduct rigorous investigations of the mining sector and the products of the mining sector in the country,” he added.
“The contractors have given us the assurance that it will be handed over to the government by the end of September, and I’m going to hold them to it. I will be knocking on the doors of Manhyia to seek the concurrence of His Royal Majesty Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, to commission this project in the first week of October,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Martin Kwaku Ayisi, disclosed that the project was initially estimated to cost GH¢80 million and that the commission already had plans to let out some offices in the edifice to generate revenue.
Mr Martin Ayisi also elaborated on the maintenance plan crafted by the commission, assuring that the facility will bring in significant benefits for the commission.
Mr Osei Tutu, the consultant, expressed confidence that the project, which is 71 per cent complete, will be ready by the end of September 2024.
Breaking down the completion rate, Mr Osei Tutu said, “Preliminaries are at 60 per cent, the soft structure for the main building is 100 per cent, the ground floor for the main building is at 63 per cent, but the overall progress of work for the seven-storey is at 63 per cent. We have the laboratory and main block. The laboratory and main block are about 71 per cent complete, so cumulatively, we are about 71 per cent.”
BY TIMES REPORTER
