The President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), Surv Dr. John K. Amaglo, FGhIS, with a team of Governing Council members of the Institution have visited the Ga East Municipal Hospital to inspect the progress of the work on the construction of the 100-bed Infectious Disease and Isolation Facility at Kwabenya in Accra.

The project which is funded through a public-private partnership, under the supervision of the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, is being executed by the 49-Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces with technical support from various building experts.

The project which commenced on April 18, 2020, is expected to be completed within six weeks.

Speaking on the institution's visit, Surv Dr. Amaglo said as a member of the built environment professionals, members of the institutions were committed to offering their services to the project probono.

“As of now, we all realise that there is the need for us to put together a crème of experts who will help this project come to a successful end within six weeks,” he stated.

Briefing the officials of GhIS during the visit, the Project Manager, Mr Essel Kofi Appiah, stated work on the edifice had gone past the foundation level to the construction of the walls.

He gave the assurance that the completion of the facility within six weeks was achievable given the level of cooperation among the Ghanaians architects, surveyors, planners and other professionals working on the project.

“This project is a sophisticated one and on completion it will be the first infectious disease centre in the country. We can assure that every worker on the project is going to work to the best of his ability to deliver a product which is off international standard,” he said.

The Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, which seeks to raise a minimum of GH¢100 million has been established by a number of private businesses drawn from diverse sectors in the country to support government’s efforts to conquer the coronavirus pandemic.

The Fund also seeks to extend relief services to individuals and families, who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, undertake sensitisation programmes, and also support institutions at the forefront of the fight.

Under its project dubbed “Protect and Resource the Frontline,” the Fund has also supplied tertiary care personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Ga East Municipal Hospital, which is the primary treatment centre for COVID-19.

Managing Trustee of the Fund, Mr Senyo Hosi, earlier disclosed that preparations towards the commencement of the project were far advanced.

“We are going to build a 100-bed facility and want to do it in not more than six weeks.”