GAAS complex to be ready March 2015
The GH¢11.5 million office complex for the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), being funded by the GETFund, will be completed by March 2015, the Honorary Secretary of the GAAS, Professor Ralph Mills-Tettey, has said.
Advertisement
The five-storey complex, which will house the headquarters of the GAAS, will also serve as the venue for all lectures and conferences of the GAAS.
Prof. Mills-Tettey, who is also the Project Architect, said the first phase of the project, which included a 520-seater auditorium, was scheduled to be completed before the end of this month, while the other phase would be completed in March 2015.
Tour of project
Prof. Mills-Tettey conducted a Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah, round the project yesterday. They were accompanied by the President of the GAAS, Prof. Francis Allotey, and other staff members of the GAAS secretariat.
President John Dramani Mahama in 2012 cut the sod for the commencement of work on the project.
Professor Mills-Tettey explained that the delay was mainly due to the increase in the prices of goods and services that resulted from the depreciation of the cedi against the major currencies.
Historic
Mr Ablakwah said he was impressed with the work done on the project and reiterated that the government attached great importance to the project and could not wait for its inauguration.
“As a nation, we ought to pay more attention to our scientists and researchers. It is our responsibility to guarantee them a good environment and we can see the generation of knowledge advanced in our country,” he said
Describing the project as historic, Mr Ablakwah said it was the only project in Africa for an academy for arts and sciences “of this scale.”
Prof. Allotey expressed satisfaction that the government had shown interest and commitment in promoting science and technology.
The project, which started in October 2012, was expected to have been completed at the end of this year. It is now expected to be ready and handed over by March 2015.
Writer’s Email: [email protected]