Work on Osagyefo Barge progresses

Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Half Assini
April 2
THE first phase of work on the Osagyefo Barge, an electricity-producing facility at Effaso-Manyea in the Jomoro District of the Western Region, being undertaken by Balkan Company Limited, is progressing steadily.
The work involves the construction of residential/office accommodation, rehabilitation of the barge itself and other preparatory works deemed necessary for the generation of power.
The second phase will involve the use of the Osagyefo Barge to generate electricity.
More than 100 locally employed workers, comprising plumbers, electricians, cooks, painters, carpenters, traffic controllers, among others, working on the barge.
There are also 12 locally trained technicians and 15 expatriates from the United States of America working directly on the barge.
The Jomoro District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Martin Yamekeh Ackah, announced this at the first ordinary meeting of the second session of the fifth assembly of the Jomoro District Assembly at Half Assini.
He said the project had boosted the local economy through the injection of about $3,000 every month from the purchase of goods from the local market.
Mr Ackah stated that the exploration and the subsequent drilling of crude oil and gas off the coast of Cape Three Points and the Tano Basin continued to occupy the attention of the government.
He said it had been established that Half Assini was geographically the nearest point on land from the drilling base, adding “This massive economic boom is likely to impact positively on the district”.
“Indications are that business tycoons have started making moves for the purchase of large tracts of lands in the district in anticipation of the massive economic boom that is likely to proceed the drilling of the oil and gas”,  he said.
Mr Ackah, therefore, appealed to the chiefs and people in the district to be mindful of those moves by the business tycoons to acquire large tracts of lands for their economic interest to the disadvantage of the people in the district and generations yet unborn.
Touching on water and sanitation, Mr Ackah said the assembly was eager to ensure easy access to potable water and sanitary facilities for the people of Jomoro.
He said the Community Based Rural Development Project had opened tenders for the provision of potable water to New Town, Enzimetianu and Kwabre.
In a related development, the DCE said the European Union water project at Tikobo Number One, Bonyere, Ezeinlibo/Ndumsuazo and Nuba was progressing.
“Drilling is progressing steadily in these towns. These communities are, however, reminded to honour their five per cent counterpart fund of the project. In fact, all the towns mentioned are doing quite well in meeting their counterpart fund agreement with the exception of Bonyere,” he said.
According to Mr Ackah, under the government’s priority project for 2008, New Kabenlasuazo, Mpataba, Eonioa, Fante New Town and Ellenda were to benefit from the provision of potable water by the end of the year.
On sanitation, the DCE said the Community Water and Sanitation Agency was constructing five latrines under the IDA programme for Beyin, Ngelekazo and Ekabaku.
He added that Care International, an international non-governmental organisation, had awarded a contract for the construction of an eight-seater KVIP public place of convenience for Adusuazo and another six-seater one for Ghana Nungua.
Mr Ackah said Care International was also undertaking the construction of two eight-seater KVIP toilets for primary and junior high schools at Adusuazo.