Architects query public-sector projects

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA - Mr Steve Akuffo, President of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA), on Wednesday said the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Board erred in awarding consultancy services for the rehabilitation of hostels in all the 10 Polytechnics to a single architectural firm.

However, a Member of the Board said if it erred, then it was the handiwork of GIA because it provided professional advice.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on: "Lapses in the procurement of architectural services for public projects", Mr Akuffo accused the Government and the Board for failing to comply with laid-down procedures in the award of contracts.

He mentioned in particular the award of the consultancy services for the rehabilitation of hostels of the 10 polytechnics, the upgrading of 110 Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) and the "Heart of Accra" project being executed by the Ghana Infrastructure Limited (GIL) and Society of Black Architects (SOBA).

Mr Akuffo explained that to undertake a professional job, the rehabilitation of the hostels should involve both Pre and Post-contract services, and contract packaging but all these processes were ignored. He said in the early 1990's as part of the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank's credit assistance to the Government, Tertiary Educational Projects and Primary School Development Projects, civil works in these institutions were undertaken.

In the execution of these projects, Mr Akuffo said contracts were packed into Project Zones, Lots and Sub-Projects and transparent World Bank Procurement Procedures were applied in selecting consultants to handle various contract packages.

The GIA President said it was, therefore, unfortunate and completely unacceptable that 10 years later, the Board of the GETFund would resort to such non-transparent procedures to pick one small architectural firm to handle all the projects, while the majority of architectural firms were idling and crying for jobs. On the upgrading of the SSS, Mr Akuffo said the projects required holistic architectural services for a thoroughly professional job.

Mr Akuffo said under the SSS projects, they had been categorized into rehabilitation of existing structures, completion of uncompleted, suspended and abandoned projects and erection of new structures.

"To our amazement, a Quantity Surveying firm was hand-picked by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in a very non-transparent manner to put together their own project team to manage the projects in all the 110 schools," Mr Akuffo said.

Mr Akuffo accused the Government of sidestepping local architects and awarding consultancy services on the rehabilitation of the Flagstaff House to a foreign firm under questionable circumstances.

He said "all Ghanaians including policymakers, must believe in the capabilities of local architects, planners, engineers, surveyors, environmentalists, hydrologists and other related development professionals and the people themselves to lead our development."

Mr Wilson Tei, a member of the GETFund Board, who attended the press conference, immediately debunked the accusations by Mr Akuffo and said the Board consulted the GIA stressing "even if they erred, then they erred with the connivance of the GIA Executives."

Mr Tei explained that the Board initially selected Golden Innovative Design Services, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Architectural Centre and Arc Design Consult and informed the GIA for advice on the procedure to award the contracts.

He said the GIA through its Registrar nominated a member to assist with the pre, post contract consultancy services and other procedures. Mr Tei said the tender, the work and all other processes that involved architectural works were actually supervised by an official duly nominated by the Registrar of GIA.

"We find it rather surprising that we have to answer to alleged lapses to consultancy services supervised by GIA, because we thought the appropriate thing was to consult GIA for professional guidance."