Tree Planting marks beginning of Jubilee Hall

Accra (Greater Accra), 29th June 99 ?

Twenty trees were on Monday planted to commemorate the commencement of the construction of Jubilee Hall by the alumni of the University of Ghana, Legon.

The ceremony also forms part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the University.

Mr Ewkow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, who deputised for the Vice-President, commended the alumni for undertaking the project.

He urged agencies, corporations and individuals to adopt some of the existing halls as well as the sponsorship of equipment and refurbishment.

Mr Jean Aka, Managing Director of Ecobank and chairman of the jubilee planning committee, said the four billion cedis hall will be constructed in four phases.

The first phase, will consist of paired rooms with common toilet facilities, 10 rooms for disabled students, 51 rooms for regular students and 19 self-contained rooms.

The second phase, which will be in two parts, will cover 58 rooms with common facilities, 13 flats and 19 single rooms.

Mr Aka said other facilities include ironing room, washing and drying room, kitchen, two large and two medium size discussion rooms, badminton court and two volleyball courts.

The rest are halls of residence which will house about 1,332 students, he said, adding that phase three would be multi-purpose halls, dinning, kitchen, porters lodge and general administration block.

The fourth phase will comprise lecturers' flats, rental shops and offices.

He said the ceremony was to let the Alumni know to what use their money has been put and to solicit for more.

Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said on September 30, 1996, the sod was cut for the commencement of the hall but the site was changed to the present location which is near the new international students hostel which is also under construction.

Mr Kofi Dua-Adonteng, president of the Sarbah Hall Alumni, said alumni are contributing one per cent per month of their income to fund the construction of the hall.

He said while some are paying, a great number have not yet started and appealed to all such "alumni to join in this noble enterprise".

He appealed to employers of alumni of the University to co-operate by deducting the one per from their salaries at source.

Trees were planted on behalf of the government, the University Council, hall masters and the regional Alumni Association.

GRi?/