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Inadequate supply of cement delaying CAN 2008 projects in
Tamale
Tamale, March 22, GNA - Inadequate supply of cement is
drawing back the progress of work at the Tamale CAN 2008
projects and it is feared that if immediate steps are not
taken the projects may not be completed on schedule.
The contractors working on the hostel facilities at the
University for Development Studies (UDS) and the Tamale
Polytechnic campuses are currently buying the product from
retailers in Tamale and from Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo
Region at a high cost to execute the projects instead of
directly from the Ghana Cement Company (GHACEM).
Mr. Opuni Amoah, Resident Engineer of the Tamale hostel
facilities told the GNA Sports after an inspection of the
two sites to see progress of work said that the contractors
need the intervention of the government to ensure adequate
supply of the product to be able to complete the projects
ahead of schedule.
He said they had already applied through the GETFund to
contact GHACEM to give a priority to the contractors working
on the CAN 2008 projects throughout the country to ensure
that the projects were completed on or ahead of schedule.
Mr Amoah indicated that if there was adequate supply of
cement the contractors would definitely complete the works
on schedule and hand over before the August 13 deadline.
He regretted that the situation had compelled the
contractors to layoff about 30 masons and some labourers, a
situation he said was hampering national development and
worsening the unemployment problems of the Region.
Mr. Amoah said the buying of cement on the open market is
costing the contractors extra expenses since they are now
forced to buy the product at the retail price at a higher
cost and sometimes they forced to travel to Sunyani when
there is a shortage of the product in the Municipality.
He added that "Anytime there is a complete shortage of
cement we have to buy the product on the open market between
90,000 cedis and 100,000 cedis depending on the retail
store."
At the UDS hostel facility site, work was progressing at the
roofing level and carpenters were could be seen on the roof
executing the job while others were on other points doing
internal painting, external plastering and tiling.
Work has also started on the auxiliary buildings comprising
an Internet Café, clinic and resting rooms. The contractors
have also started work on the laundry, the car park and the
gymnastic centre.
Roofing on the three-storey hostel building at the Tamale
Polytechnic is almost completed and the layman's view is
that it would be completed before the UDS project but the
engineers have given the assurance that the two projects
would all be completed on schedule.
The Tamale stadium project had taken shape and the
picturesque view of the stadium can be admired and viewed
from any hilly are of the Municipality as the project has
added to the beautification of the city.
The Chinese contractors working on the stadium assured the
GNA Sports that the project was on course and they would
finish and hand over at the stipulated time to justify the
confidence the government had in China by awarding them the
contract.
Roads leading to all the sites however still remain in poor
state and something urgent needs to be done about the
situation to befit the status of the structures.
GNA
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