Ashanti Regional Minister inspects on-going projects in Kumasi

Kumasi, July 11, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister on Monday inspected some on-going development projects within the Kumasi Metropolis to acquaint himself with the progress of work.

The inspection was in addition, to enable him assess the problems, volume of work on hand and how best to address them to ensure early and successful completion.

The projects were the City Hotel rehabilitation, Asafo Market Interchange and Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Mr Owusu-Ansah accompanied by Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, the Metropolitan Assembly Engineers and members of the Ashanti Regional Security Council, also visited the moribund Jute factory.

Conducting Mr Owusu-Ansah and his entourage round the City Hotel rehabilitation project, which started 20 days ago, Mr Collins Owusu-Afriyie, a local partner and Mr Mu Project Manager, said renovation work had already started and some offices were being refurbished.

Mr Owusu-Afriyie said China State Colon Construction the company, undertaking the project had been given 18 months to complete the rehabilitation works that included renovation and construction, adding that "Without any hitches work would be completed before schedule." Mr Owusu-Ansah asked the management of the company, not to hesitate to consult him whenever they faced problems.

At the Asafo Market Interchange project site, the Ashanti Regional Minister expressed concern about the absence of both the contractor and workers who were not at work.

Mr Godfried Amoo, Kumasi Metropolitan Roads Engineer of the Department of Urban roads and Mr Anthony Boakye, contract Manager, who represented the Consultants conducted the Minister round the project. Mr Amoo said it was not true that the designs of the project had been changed but admitted that there were some misunderstanding between the contractor and the consultants but the problem had been solved. He said the contractor had been given up to Friday, July 14 to resume work.

Mr Owusu-Ansah said the duration for the contractor to resume work should be extended to Friday, July 21 and when he failed to resume work, Government would be advised on the delay of the project. Mr Michail Quainoo, Quantity Surveyor and Mr Paullo Albertazzi, Project Manager of Waterville Consar Company working on the rehabilitation and construction of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, said the project would be completed before schedule.

They said the completed stadium would have a police station, gymnasium, halls, restaurant, 65 shops and a first aid room, adding that, 20 per cent of the external works had been completed. The Ashanti Regional Minister called for more exit entrance, adding that FIFA was much concerned about the security of people who entered the stadium.

At the Jute factory, Mr Owusu-Ansah expressed concern about the factory that in the past employed over 700 workers, but now was lying idle for various reasons.

He said it was his vision to ensure that the factory was resuscitated since the machines could be rehabilitated to operate.