By: Hannah DadzieWork has begun on the construction of a 20-million-dollar annex building for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Accra. The project which is expected to be completed within 26 months is funded with a grant from the Chinese government. At a sod-cutting ceremony to begin the project, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, said the project would enable the Ministry to make provision for certain essential facilities that the existing building constructed a decade ago, lacks. She asked the contractors, Yanjian Group Company Limited to ensure the completion of the project within the stipulated time and also ensure quality execution. She expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government for supporting the ministry to accommodate the increasing number of staff.“Permit me to express my profound gratitude to the government of the people’s Republic of China for the aid provided to construct an Annex building for the Ministry. In view of the long-standing cordial relationship between China and Ghana, they supported the building project with a Chinese grant for the construction of office premises for the Ministry in 2013.” Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said She recalled how the Ministry was forced to evacuate its main office in October 2009, after the fire outbreak that wreaked havoc and extensive damage to the building. She added that aside from the massive loss of vital documents and the related institutional memory, the Ministry was confronted with the problem of a lack of office accommodation.
“At the time, the Jubilee House had just been completed but was yet to be occupied by the Presidency. The former President of the Republic, the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, then directed that the Ministry be relocated to the Jubilee House while Government sought funding to construct a new Office space. “Madam Ayorkor Botchwey stressed.She noted that after almost ten years, it became apparent that the new office space was not adequate hence the need to construct an Annex building to be attached to the existing magnificent structure they have.“With the support of China aid, the ministry was granted the needed funds to build the annex structure to accommodate the increased number of staff and I wish to urge the Contractor, Yanjian Group Company Limited and the Ghanaian Consultant, Masaub Consults to ensure the completion of the project within schedule.” She said.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said upon the completion of the project, a facility within the building would be named after the former Ambassador of Ghana to China, Edward Boateng who played a key role in facilitating the grant.The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Lu Kun said China is committed to providing the necessary support to the people of Ghana. He said the project will further deepen the cooperation between the two countries.“We believe that, after the project is completed, the office environment of the Ministry will be significantly improved, which will enable the Ministry better perform its functions and better serve the people of Ghana. I also believe the project will become a major milestone of the time-honored China-Ghana friendship and an important bridge of communication and cooperation between Ghana and the world” Ambassador Lu Kun indicatedThe building sited on approximately 11,300 square metres of land, would have six floors above-ground and one underground when completed. It would have facilities, including the Minister’s office area, conference hall, press room, banquet hall and underground parking lot, gymnasium, clinic, stores, and an archives room.
