The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, has expressed disgust over the additional GH¢3.3million spent to renovate the newly constructed office complex for the Afadjato South District Assembly due to shoddy work on the project.
The renovation was occasioned by some structural defects in the building detected by the assembly after the contractor handed over the project.
During an inspection tour of the renovated complex, he said it was important for engineers at the various assemblies to monitor projects executed by contractors to ensure that they met specifications till completion and handover.
Deploring the additional cost the state had to incur as a result of poor execution of the assembly project, he said, “henceforth, government projects on contract should not be left in the hands of contractors and consultants alone but engineers of Assemblies will have to critically monitor projects to ensure that contractors meet the project specifications to prevent structural defects that would deny the government value for money.”
Dr Letsa, however, expressed satisfaction with the progress of renovation works on the Afadzato-South Assembly complex, the ongoing construction of GH¢ 7.111.70 million ultra-modern assembly complex project for the Kpando Municipal Assembly at Fesi and the GH¢ 7.1 million ultra-modern assembly complex for Ho Municipal Assembly, all being funded under the District Assemblies Common Fund.
He commended Voniboru Construction Limited, the contractor executing the projects, and Fedems Consult, the consultant of the projects for “the good work”.
He said the 48-office space project at Kpando, the 38 office spaces in Ho and the additional 10 office spaces on the Afadzato South project were of a quality standard.
The minister expressed the hope that the projects would address office accommodation problems of decentralised departments and agencies when completed.
The Afadzato South District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Mawutor Flulolu, said when the assembly relocated to the new building, its engineers found the defects and advised that the entire building should be renovated.
He said almost all the offices leaked during rainfall, which resulted in the flooding of the offices, including his, and “this created uncomfortable working environment”, and lauded the renovation works being done.
The Consultant of Fedems Consult Limited, Mr Samuel Amankona, explained that major renovation works included reroofing of parts of the building; and replacement of electricity wires, ceilings, floor tiles and air-conditioners.
He said the additional 10 office spaces provided on the Afadzato South Assembly complex had washrooms, adding that “the project will be completed in November 2023”.
FROM LAWRENCE MARKWEI, GOLOKUATI
