The Minerals Development Fund has completed some legacy projects at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa in the Western Region.
Over GH¢30 million was spent on completing the projects that began years ago.
The Minerals Development Fund (MDF) Board has indicated that it will ensure that projects being constructed under the Fund meet sustainability requirements.
Consequently, the Administrator of the Fund, Dr. Noris Kwaku Hammah has directed local management committees which are in charge of the implementing of MDF projects to present maintenance and sustainability plans before contracts are awarded.
He was speaking during the inspection of some legacy projects by the board of the Minerals Development Fund, at the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at the UMaT Guest House in Accra.
The Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund, Dr. Norris Kawku Hammah, gave a general overview of the projects.
- UMAT to roll out green grass and water purification technology in the mining sector
- UMaT has a technology to clean polluted water bodies-Vice Chancellor
He noted that, “as you have witnessed, the numerous projects that MDF is funding on UMaT campus, we have about eight projects in total. Seven are on UMaT campus here in Tarkwa, another facility which is along the stretch of UPS, East Legon, which is the guest house facility. Rightfully, you can see that we’ve done tremendously well. Facilities here ranges from the biggest administration block in the whole of Ghana. As you have witnessed, we have faculty blocks, cafeteria, banking hall, supermarket and eatery. Where we are now is supposed to be a sports stadium for the UMaT campus. MDF has done well all. We have spent well over GH¢30 million on the various projects”.
Projects and completion levels
He also touched on the level of competition of the projects.
He said, “the projects are going on steadily. The output ranges from 70% completion and some are 80%. For example, the cafeteria is about 80% complete and for the stadium, I will grade it 50%. But we have the lecturers’ bungalow which has a block uncompleted and the other is about 80% complete. The faculty block is also about 70%. So it is moving on progressively. So we are quite happy with the development of the various constructions”.
Maintenance Culture
On the culture of maintaining the projects, the Administrator of the Fund indicated that MDF will enforce that a portion of income generated from the facilities is set aside for proper maintenance of all our facilities.
Demand for sustainability plans
“As part of sustainability plans the MDF has guidelines and has taken members of the Local Management Committee through certain training,” Dr. Noris Kwaku Hammah added.
He further indicated that, “This is part of the guidelines to sustainability. So it is part of the guidelines that you don’t want to do a project just for the project’s sake. You have to come up with the project that at least if it is a market, you have to rent the individual spaces for a token basis. If you build a market, and you don’t have a sustainability plan, how you’re going to maintain it will be an issue.”
Also in Tarkwa, the Minerals Development Fund funded the construction of the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly Office Complex.
