Media reports on Jubilee House inaccurate -Govt

Accra, Oct.2, GNA - The Ministry of Information on Friday expressed disappointment at what it described as the inaccuracies in some media reports on the tour of the Jubilee House, which is to house the seat of government and an official residence of the President.

A statement signed by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information, said despite the fact that the tour was organised for the media and together with the Project Consultants from the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL) and the Project Manager, Mr S. K. Singh, details of the project made available were ill-reported.

"Sections of the press went ahead to publish and broadcast stories that did not fully reflect what transpired," the statement stressed. It noted that "nobody suggested during the tour that a security residence would have to be constructed within the walls of the 'Jubilee House' to accommodate security personnel before President John Atta Mills moves in".

"What we have said is that the facility does not have accommodation for the president's security detail, but the project contractors working with the AESL and with the knowledge of the Kufuor government identified a piece of land for which an additional $35 million would be required. The then Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani sent a request to the Indian government for additional support to fund the security housing project."

The statement said the Ministry was therefore surprised at news reports suggesting that the Mills government, unhappy about the lack of a residential facility for security personnel within the Jubilee house, is planning to build a complex worth $ 35 million.

"This government has not taken any such decision and we can also confirm that the security machinery and government are considering other options all aimed at ensuring that the facility is ready for the use of the presidency."

The statement explained that what is required to complete the Jubilee House was $15 million, which includes payment for $6.5 million arrears owed the contractors, unpaid consultancy fees, completion of work on the General Services Building, which is to house a clinic, fire service post, restaurant, post office and a bank, a garden, landscaping, helipad area and other required security installations.

"The main 'Jubilee House' cannot be lumped together with the proposed facility for the accommodation of security personnel, which was estimated by the previous government, the contractors and AESL at $35 million."

The Ministry said it found it rather shocking that some media houses and reporters decided, despite the information and detailed explanations offered during the tour, "to peddle deliberate falsehood". The Deputy Minister emphasised that government had not made any amendments or taken any new decisions on the Jubilee House project, adding that the $35 million additional housing project was neither a priority nor a condition for the relocation of the seat of government. A preliminary report from the technical team working at the Jubilee House had indicated that $82 million has so far been spent on the facility as against the $30 million said to be the cost initially. 2 Oct. 09