Ghana: Minister Inspects Tema Canoe Wharf Project

The Minister for Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, has directed the FNB/Kwik Silver contractors engaged in the construction of a concrete wharf at the Tema Canoe beach to complete work by the end of April 2013 for handover and inauguration in May 2013.

She expressed disappointment at the delay in work, noting that it was long overdue for the work to be completed.

Mrs Attivor, who visited the canoe beach on Tuesday to inspect work so far done on the wharf, recounted that the project was initiated on the orders of the late President John Atta Mills when he paid a familiarization tour to the canoe beach.

She said the late President found the canoe beach in a horrible state and therefore called on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to replace the dilapidated wooden wharf with a more suitable one.

Mrs Attivor was on the view that more delays would not be in the interest of the people and therefore the contractors must quicken the pace of the work to ensure it was completed within the next eight weeks.

She urged the Director-General of the GPHA, Mr Ray Abugri Anamoo, to closely monitor the project to ensure that the directive was complied with.

Mrs Attivor disclosed that the wharf would be inaugurated in memory of the late President Mills.

The Project Manager of the FNB/Kwik Silver, Mr Julius Carl Hermond, confirmed that the work was behind schedule but explained that there was another company dredging the landing sites which therefore created the delay.

He stated that there was an under-water aspect of the work which fell within the work area of the dredging company.

Mr Hermond, however, said the work was 90 per cent complete and soon laying of gravity blocks, which are precast concrete slaps meant to be arranged into the water to the prepared grounds, would be laid.

He gave an assurance that once the dredging company gave way, the wharf would be completed in a short time.

The Director-General of the GPHA, Mr Ray Anamoo, said the project, estimated to cost GH¢5.7 million and of about 130 metres long concrete wall, was almost completed with the under-water work aspect yet to be done.

He said the challenges faced by the project contractors was because there were two contractors working at the same on different aspect of the project.

Mr Anamoo said GPHA was also funding removal of about 40 sunken vessels in the water at the canoe beach at an estimated cost of 400,000 dollars to make the dredging meaningful.

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Source: ghana.gov.gh, February 28, 2013