Eastern Region Residency rotting away - Minister lodging elsewhere at own cost

The lack of regular maintenance of the buildings at the Eastern Regional Residency, which has resulted in the dilapidation of the structures, has compelled the Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, to seek accommodation elsewhere at her own cost.

The facilities, which also cater for visiting high government officials such as the President, Vice-President and the Speaker of Parliament, are so much in disrepair that they do not benefit the status to accommodate such dignitaries.

The Regional Minister, Rita Awatey, who visited what is supposed to be the residency for the Eastern Region, was so shaken about the state of the infrastructure and what had resulted in being left in such condition.

A new building under construction has stalled due to lack of funds

Briefing the media during an inspection tour of the facilities last Tuesday, Mrs Awatey said under no circumstance should such facilities be left to rot away and not maintained.

During the tour, it came up that since its construction during the colonial era, the residency, which includes a house for the deputy regional minister, had not seen any maintenance.

No maintenance

However, the regional minister indicated that the lack of maintenance culture had resulted in such a situation and blamed his predecessors for allowing the facilities to go bad.

Entrance to the Eastern Region residency

Speaking to where she was residing in the light of the present state of the residency, Mrs Awatey said, "Because the economy is not on a sound footing, I decided to look for a small private place of abode at my own cost.”

She, however, declined to disclose how much she was spending on accommodation in the absence of an official residence for her as the regional minister.

She nonetheless added that "It is not the best. Because the regional police commander is ensuring 24-hour protection, I'm safe there to exercise my duties as a regional minister until the residency has been renovated and made suitable for me and any other visiting high government officials.”

She stated that although the apartment that should house the regional minister was in the process of being renovated, the contractor handling the job abandoned the project in April last year.

In view of that, she pointed out that she would see how best to complete the project.

"We are going to call the contractor and negotiate with him on the execution of the project," she stated.

Good shape

For his part, the Head of Works at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), Godfred Nsiah Amoako, gave the assurance that his outfit would do its best to put the place in good shape to enable the regional minister to move in quickly.

Godfred Nsiah Amoako (right), Head of Works at the Regional Coordinating Council, explaining issues to Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, the Eastern Regional Minister, at the Residency

Mr Amoako explained that the contractor working on the project had abandoned it because there were no funds to continue. He was unable though, to provide the cost of the renovation when asked.

He further stated that the Department of Parks and Gardens which should beautify the place lacked the necessary equipment to do so, hence the weedy nature of the residency.

Understaffed

Apart from that, Mr Amoako indicated that the department was also understaffed.

Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey (middle) not in a good mood after seeing the poor state of the residency

"We need huge financial resources to address such challenges which I believe will be done as soon as possible," Mr Amoako stated.

Giving the history of the place, he said the facilities existed from the colonial days when the structures were put up to accommodate the regional minister as well as other high government officials.

Mr Amoako agreed that although measures were being taken to maintain the facilities, their current state was not the best.

Last occupancy

Checks by the Daily Graphic showed that the last regional minister to occupy the residency was Seth Kwame Acheampong, who was a member of the Sixth and Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic, representing the Mpraeso Constituency (January 2013 to December 2020) in the Eastern Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The Department of Parks and Gardens which should beautify the place lacks the necessary logistics to do so

Mr Acheampong was appointed the Eastern Regional Minister by then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and he assumed office as the minister on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, taking over from Eric Kwakye Darfour who was the minister during Akufo-Addo’s first term in office.

Mr Acheampong’s tenure as minister ended in January 2025.

Writer's email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh