President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the construction of the new Operational Head Office of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) in Takoradi. The facility at a contract sum of $25 million, is to be constructed at a total land-size of 11680 meters square, within a two year period.
Designed by Ghanaian architects, the complex; a seven (7) storey, upon completion will come with public spaces for a 300-seater auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, and a business centre on the ground floor. The upper floors will accommodate private office spaces for GNPC and for lease to prospective tenants ‘especially in the oil and gas value chain’
As part of the design and in compliance with the Government’s policy on ensuring smart energy efficiency, the office complex incorporates solar ingress and wind direction. Upon completion, the building is expected to attain LEED certification, which measures building standards to assess their compliance with ‘all-in-one’ address of energy efficiency, water conservation, site selection, material selection, daylighting, and waste reduction. This, as argued by government will be the first of its kind in Sekondi-Takoradi.
President Nana Addo in his address at ground-breaking ceremony held at the project site on Wednesday 19 August, 2020, stressed that the commencement of the project gives meaning to the manifesto promise of “creating a regional oil service hub with first-class port facility, as well as positioning it as an efficient center for back-office support for oil industry in the West African region, including the relocation of the headquarters of the GNPC to region”.
He mentioned that the project was scheduled to have started earlier but suffered some constraints hence the delay.
“But for the protracted search of suitable land for this office and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, this project would have been by now be at an advanced stage” he explained.
President Nana Addo charged the contractor to source the manpower and other resources needed for the project, domestically.
This he explained would support growth in the local economy, and thus provide greater value for the people in the region.
He commended the Western Region Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Region House of Chiefs, and the Lands Commission for doing the awesome work done in making this a reality.
He commended the Western Region Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Region House of Chiefs, and the Lands Commission for doing the awesome work done in making this a reality.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of GNPC, Mr. Freddy Blay indicated that current leadership of the organization was spirited by the President’s dream of building an industrious oil and gas service hub in the Western Region. He noted that it was without question the decision to relocate the Operational Head Office of the GNPC to the region, as there continues to be greater opportunity for the industry in the region.
He added that the Western and Western North Region have had a fair share of investments made by GNPC since the Akufo-Addo government took office.
He added that the Western and Western North Region have had a fair share of investments made by GNPC since the Akufo-Addo government took office.
Below is a catalogue of investments made by the GNPC (Nationally, and within the Western, Western North Regions)
National Support
Projects across the country
● 138 Primary, Junior High and Senior High School Classroom Blocks;
● 85 Sanitary Facilities in schools, markets and communities;
● 27 Astro-turfs with floodlighting and fencing for schools and communities;
● 8 Dormitories in Senior High Schools;
● 8 Science laboratories in Senior High Schools;
● 450 boreholes to supply potable water to rural communities,
● Sickle Cell and Blood Centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (under construction)
● Reconstructive Surgery Unit of the Burns Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital
● Medical equipment to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for the treatment of cancer.
● Over 4,000 scholarships for undergraduate and post-graduate studies in Ghanaian tertiary institutions.
● Over 200 scholarships to Ghanaian students to study medicine in Cuba.
● US$4 million over a period of four (4) years for the establishment of Professorial Chairs in four (4) Ghanaian public universities.
● Over 42,000 sets of tables and chairs for basic and senior high schools.
2. Western and Western North Region
Projects
● 30 Primary, JHS and SHS Classroom blocks;
● 16 Sanitary facilities in schools, markets and communities;
● 6 Astro-turfs with floodlighting and fencing in schools and communities;
● 1 Science laboratory at Bibiani Senior High Technical School;
● Refurbishment of the science laboratory at the Diabene Senior High School;
● 54 boreholes to supply potable water to rural communities;
● 3 Dormitories for the Sekondi School for the Deaf, Nkroful SHS and Queens SHS;
● 8 units of 2-bedroom flats to serve as Guest House for the Western Regional House of Chiefs;
● Administration Block and Research Centre for the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi;
● 1No. Market at Adieye;
● Dining Hall at Esiama Senior High Technical School;
● Administration Block and Lecture Halls for the Bibiani College of Health
● Buildings to house the School of Petroleum Studies at the University of Mines and Technology at Tarkwa.
● Furniture and teaching aid for the Effia-Nkwanta Nursing and Midwifery Training College.
● Training for artisans under the guidance of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI)
● Health support in respect of hernia operations, eye screening, spinal disorders surgery and supply of surgical equipment, etc.
● Expansion of the Ekwe Catholic Hospital with an additional 100-bed facility (contract already awarded).
3. Road Projects in the Western Region
● 49.7 km Mpataba-Half Assini-Jewi Wharf Road
● 30 km Gwira-Anyinase-Gwira Wiawso Road
● 6.5 km Esiama-Nkroful-Teleku-Wakazo Road
● 15 km Dixcove-Akwadai-Medie Junction
● 14.7 km Tontu-Aketechie-Aboadi-Butre Junction
● 16.3 km Nyamebekyere-Egyambra-Miemia Junction
● 44 km of selected roads in the Jomoro District
● 78 km of selected roads in the Ellembele District