Shapoorji Pallonji to build presidential complex in Ghana

Mumbai, June 2: The Foundation Stone to build the seat of government and presidential complex has been laid by H E Mr John Agyekum KUFUOR, President of Ghana in the presence of Mr Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs, government of India, on Friday, May 26 in the Republic of Ghana.

The government of India has extended a Line of Credit of US $ 30 million for the project, which is estimated to cost US $ 36.9 million, the balance being funded by the government of Ghana.

This mammoth and prestigious project is the culmination of initiatives taken at CII?s Africa Mini Conclave, held recently in Accra. It will be constructed by Shapoorji Pallonji - a 140-year-old construction major with extensive experience in the construction of landmark structures, both in India and abroad. It may be recalled that Shapoorji Pallonji was one of the first Indian construction companies to enter the West Asia in the 1970s when the seat of governance of the Sultanate of Oman was entrusted to the company.

The presidential complex and seat of government will have a total built-up area of around 13,000 sq mts and is proposed to be located at the site of the erstwhile Flagstaff House, which had originally housed the first President of Ghana. It is located centrally on Liberation Avenue close to Revolution Square which has a total area of approx 70 acres. The complex will accommodate the Presidential and Vice Presidential offices and the offices of key ministers, the chief of staff?s officers and the President?s official residence, state ceremonial hall and a presidential gallery. It will incorporate state-of-the-art communication facilities along with a proposal to landscape the area beautifully.

Commenting on this achievement a senior official from Shapoorji Pallonji said, ?The construction of such a monumental structure in the heart of Accra will serve as a significant and strategic reference point for Indian construction technology, in the entire continent of Africa. This will throw open wide vistas of opportunities for Indian business in general and construction-related business in particular and the long-term dividends of which will continue to flow to Indian companies for a long time to come. Thus the benefits to all upstream and downstream industries connected with construction would be immense.?