Contractors working on the 330kV Bulk Supply Point at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana are working speedily to beat the project schedule.
Work on the US$33 million project, which is expected to boost power supply upon completion, will benefit areas including Pokuase, Nsawam, Kwabenya, Legon, Oyibi and Adenta.
The project is being executed by Elecnor of Spain, with earth moving works sub-contracted to Cymain while Mikadu and Oakley have also been sub-contracted for the construction of GRIDCo and ECG/PDS offices.
The BSP, which is the first project under the Ghana Power II, spearheaded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) through the Millennium Development Authority, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.
When energynewsafrica.com visited the project site, contractors were seen busily working with earth moving machines and tipper trucks to prepare the base for actual civil works to start.
The Project Manager for Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP), Patrick Oppong who took energynewsafrica.com’s reporter around the site explained that per their planned schedule, the project should be about 16%.
However, he said the progress of work is about 25% complete due to the speed with which the contractors are working.
“We want to say that by two or three weeks’ time, earth works should be completed and civil works for foundation will also start straight away. As you can see, they are marking the foundation for GRIDCo’s office building. ECG/PDS building will also start in three weeks’ time,’ he explained.
Arrival of Equipment
Contractors working on the project, Mr Oppong said have already submitted designs and placed orders for the manufacturing of all the equipment including transformers to be used.
According to him, officials of MiDA, PDS, ECG and the contractors will visit Turkey, Germany, Italy, USA, India, as well as Switzerland where the order for the equipment has been placed to inspect them in December this year to ensure that they are of standard before they are shipped to Ghana between February and May 2020.
Job Creation
The project has employed about 90 workers so far, with more people to be employed when the actual construction begins.
Mr Oppong told energynewsafrica.com that 200 additional workers would be employed, explaining that priority would be given to residents of the area.
“On records, close to 90 workers have been employed for the earth works. When the actual construction work starts we will add about 200 more people,” he said.
As part of effort to ensure that women also benefit from the job opportunities being created as a result of the project, a policy has been developed to ensure that 5% of the technical workforce are women, Mr Oppong, explained.
Community Engagement
According to Mr Oppong, there is a monthly engagement with residents of the area, especially those who are close to the project site to know their concerns in order to get them addressed.
He said based on the engagement, “we have decided to improve on the road network in the area and also making assure that we water the road every morning and evening to minimise dust pollution.”
Safety Measures
As part of effort to ensure material quality, the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has also set up a centre at the site to test the soil and other materials that will be used to ensure that they are of quality.
Assurance
Mr Patrick Oppong assured the public that MiDA would ensure that the project is executed up to standard so that the country would get value.
