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The abandoned one storey structure.
Hannah A. Amoah

Work on GES assessment centre stalls

Work on a child assessment centre in Achimota, Accra, which began two years ago and was expected to be completed within six months has been abandoned.  

The one-storey ultra-modern structure has been discontinued for the past one-and-a-half years.

The centre, which is under the Ghana Education Service (GES), assesses children with disabilities throughout the country in order to place them in special schools.

The Assistant Audiologist at the centre, Mr Prince Joshua Abror, who disclosed this to the Junior Graphic, said the building was awarded on contract  to Rock Everest Company by the Ministry of Education through the GETfund.

He said when the GES enquired from the contractor why the project had delayed, he said work could not go on because there was no money.

Mr Abror said a number of letters written by the head of the centre, Ms Cathereine Gah, to the GETfund to release funds for the contractor to resume work had proved futile.

He said the old structure was pulled down to create space for the construction of the new building during which time the personnel of the centre were moved to a temporary structure.  

Mr Abror said, “Currently the conditions under which we are working is very bad.”

For instance, he said, assessing a child with hearing defects was very difficult because the consulting room should be  acoustically designed and fitted with air condition and sound proof features but that was not what prevailed.

He explained that presently a fan had been provided for ventilation but pointed out that when assessing a child the fan is switched off - to prevent any noise - and that causes both him and the child being assessed to sweat profusely.  

For instance, he said, the structure was situated between two schools, therefore, when children were on break they made so much noise that work had to be halted during that period. 

He said children with intellectual disabilities would have to be assessed by a clinical psychologist but when they were referred to the hospital, the results often delayed for about a year, making some parents give up and keep those children at home.

Mr Abror said when the building was completed, it would be equipped with all the needed professionals to assess children with various disabilities at one place.  

 He, therefore, appealed to benevolent organisations to assist to complete the project.

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