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allAfrica.com: Ghana: Contractor Abandons Dining Hall Project At Gbeogo School for the Deaf
Work on a dining hall complex at the Gbeogo School for the Deaf at Tongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District has come to a standstill, following the contractor abandoning the project site.
Though the structure has been roofed and plastered, other works such as painting, toilet, wiring, ceiling, burglar-proof and windows are not complete, thus making the facility unusable.
The Senior House Master of the School, Mr. Ateo Sylvester, told The Chronicle in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that the deadline for the completion of the project was March 2009, but the contractor had abandoned the project and bolted away.
All attempts to get him back to complete the project have been unsuccessful. According to Mr. Ateo, whenever it rains, the cooks stand in the rain to prepare food for the students, whose population stands at 126.
He is also worried about the safety of the food prepared for the students under such conditions, and appealed to The Chronicle to assist in locating the contractor.
Although the Senior House Master said the contractor claimed he was not paid for the work done, he suspects foul play.
His reason was that when the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Francis Andiiba, died in September last year, the contractor (the name of his firm was not available) except his name, John Atuah, went straight to the Talensi-Nabdam District Assembly and 'used other means' to go for his money in Accra, instead of first going to the school for a covering letter.
When he got to Accra, he was asked to produce a covering letter from the Headmaster of the school showing the state of work before he could get his money.
Because he passed through the back door of the assembly, he could not produce the covering letter from the school.
According to Mr. Ateo, the contractor phoned the school requesting for a covering letter, which was to indicate that he had finished with the ceiling, burglar-proofing, manhole and many things he had not even done.
Mr. Ateo said when the management of the school told the contractor they would only write what they saw, he asked them not to if they would not grant his request.
He said later, some people came and told the school authorities that they helped the contractor to get loans from the bank to do the project, and since the interest rates were going up, they needed money to settle them.
The people then requested that the school categorise the level of work done in percentages so the contractor could get money from those who awarded the contract to him to settle the bank.
This was done, but the contractor still did not continue with the work, and anytime he was contacted, claimed he had still not been paid.
Citing the fence wall project, which he said, was also awarded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund), Mr. Ateo wondered how the contractor of the fence wall could have been paid and Mr. Atuah not. "So if somebody like this has gotten money from the same source to complete his project, and you are saying they are not paying you, it means there is a problem," Mr. Ateo stated.
He said the contractor of the fence wall project was given six months to complete his work, but before the six month, the work was almost complete. What is left to be completed is painting, which is also one quarter complete.
Meanwhile, the uncompleted manhole in the school has now become a deathtrap, as rains set in. The school authorities are concerned that when the pit is filled with water, children, and even adults, could fall into it and drown.
The boys' dormitory, which was built by Atuah was shoddily done, as the paint and walls are peeling off, thereby exposing the building to rain and the harsh weather.
The school authorities are not also satisfied with the quality of work on the dining hall project. The streetlights project, which was also given on contract in 2007, has not been executed.
This is due to the death of the first contractor. The situation now compels the students and their teachers to use torch lights at night, since that is the only way they can communicate effectively when using sign language.
Mr. Ateo explained that whenever a student wants to communicate at night, they have to ask their colleagues to shine a torchlight on them so they can be seen while communicating with the other person.
Mr. Ateo said the matter was reported to the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mrs. Vivian Anafo, who promised to consult the assembly's engineers. Three days later, a tipper truck came to the school and dumped stones and sand.
This was followed by a phone call from a man who claimed to be the contractor, who enquired whether stones and sand had been brought to the school. When he was answered in the affirmative, he said he was coming to do the work, and more than three months now has not surfaced at the site.
On parents' responsibilities to keeping their wards in the school, the Senior Housemaster lamented that some parents bring their wards and dump them in the school with the mind that the government was going to provide all their needs.
He explained that the government provides a feeding grant and the students are fed three times daily. There are also dormitories for both boys and girls, but no accommodation for the teachers.
Mr. Ateo said in spite of the government's assistance, parents still have to cater for the basic needs of their children. These include soap, school uniforms, gari and other forms of provisions.
On the water system, Mr. Ateo said there was no problem, because there was a mechanised borehole that supplies water to the boys' and girls' dormitories and the school kitchen.
He, however, said the school had only one toilet that serves the students and their teachers. According to him, the toilet had a problem. He explained that whenever they dislodge it, it does not take long and it gets full again with water.
Since Tuesday, the contractor has not been reached through his cell phone. Meanwhile, efforts are still being made to reach him for his response.
The Gbeogo School for the Deaf was established in 1996. It encompasses a kindergarten, primary and Junior High School, with a teaching staff of twenty three, including six volunteers.
Work on a dining hall complex at the Gbeogo School for the Deaf at Tongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District has come to a standstill, following the contractor abandoning the project site.
Though the structure has been roofed and plastered, other works such as painting, toilet, wiring, ceiling, burglar-proof and windows are not complete, thus making the facility unusable.
The Senior House Master of the School, Mr. Ateo Sylvester, told The Chronicle in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that the deadline for the completion of the project was March 2009, but the contractor had abandoned the project and bolted away.
All attempts to get him back to complete the project have been unsuccessful. According to Mr. Ateo, whenever it rains, the cooks stand in the rain to prepare food for the students, whose population stands at 126.
He is also worried about the safety of the food prepared for the students under such conditions, and appealed to The Chronicle to assist in locating the contractor.
Although the Senior House Master said the contractor claimed he was not paid for the work done, he suspects foul play.
His reason was that when the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Francis Andiiba, died in September last year, the contractor (the name of his firm was not available) except his name, John Atuah, went straight to the Talensi-Nabdam District Assembly and 'used other means' to go for his money in Accra, instead of first going to the school for a covering letter.
When he got to Accra, he was asked to produce a covering letter from the Headmaster of the school showing the state of work before he could get his money.
Because he passed through the back door of the assembly, he could not produce the covering letter from the school.
According to Mr. Ateo, the contractor phoned the school requesting for a covering letter, which was to indicate that he had finished with the ceiling, burglar-proofing, manhole and many things he had not even done.
Mr. Ateo said when the management of the school told the contractor they would only write what they saw, he asked them not to if they would not grant his request.
He said later, some people came and told the school authorities that they helped the contractor to get loans from the bank to do the project, and since the interest rates were going up, they needed money to settle them.
The people then requested that the school categorise the level of work done in percentages so the contractor could get money from those who awarded the contract to him to settle the bank.
This was done, but the contractor still did not continue with the work, and anytime he was contacted, claimed he had still not been paid.
Citing the fence wall project, which he said, was also awarded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund), Mr. Ateo wondered how the contractor of the fence wall could have been paid and Mr. Atuah not. "So if somebody like this has gotten money from the same source to complete his project, and you are saying they are not paying you, it means there is a problem," Mr. Ateo stated.
He said the contractor of the fence wall project was given six months to complete his work, but before the six month, the work was almost complete. What is left to be completed is painting, which is also one quarter complete.
Meanwhile, the uncompleted manhole in the school has now become a deathtrap, as rains set in. The school authorities are concerned that when the pit is filled with water, children, and even adults, could fall into it and drown.
The boys' dormitory, which was built by Atuah was shoddily done, as the paint and walls are peeling off, thereby exposing the building to rain and the harsh weather.
The school authorities are not also satisfied with the quality of work on the dining hall project. The streetlights project, which was also given on contract in 2007, has not been executed.
This is due to the death of the first contractor. The situation now compels the students and their teachers to use torch lights at night, since that is the only way they can communicate effectively when using sign language.
Mr. Ateo explained that whenever a student wants to communicate at night, they have to ask their colleagues to shine a torchlight on them so they can be seen while communicating with the other person.
Mr. Ateo said the matter was reported to the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mrs. Vivian Anafo, who promised to consult the assembly's engineers. Three days later, a tipper truck came to the school and dumped stones and sand.
This was followed by a phone call from a man who claimed to be the contractor, who enquired whether stones and sand had been brought to the school. When he was answered in the affirmative, he said he was coming to do the work, and more than three months now has not surfaced at the site.
On parents' responsibilities to keeping their wards in the school, the Senior Housemaster lamented that some parents bring their wards and dump them in the school with the mind that the government was going to provide all their needs.
He explained that the government provides a feeding grant and the students are fed three times daily. There are also dormitories for both boys and girls, but no accommodation for the teachers.
Mr. Ateo said in spite of the government's assistance, parents still have to cater for the basic needs of their children. These include soap, school uniforms, gari and other forms of provisions.
On the water system, Mr. Ateo said there was no problem, because there was a mechanised borehole that supplies water to the boys' and girls' dormitories and the school kitchen.
He, however, said the school had only one toilet that serves the students and their teachers. According to him, the toilet had a problem. He explained that whenever they dislodge it, it does not take long and it gets full again with water.
Since Tuesday, the contractor has not been reached through his cell phone. Meanwhile, efforts are still being made to reach him for his response.
The Gbeogo School for the Deaf was established in 1996. It encompasses a kindergarten, primary and Junior High School, with a teaching staff of twenty three, including six volunteers.