Clean Ghana Policy: Beware Of Fake & Self-Proclaimed Agents - Ghana First CEO Cautions Contractors

Government's plan to make Ghana the cleanest country in Africa appears to be on course, albeit gradually, with the awarding of various sanitation contracts to some waste management companies.

Amongst this is the KVIP (Toilet facilities) project to be undertaken by GHANA FIRST COMPANY Ltd.

The Waste Management Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Thermodul System GmBH, a German company, to construct 20,000 units of modern toilet facilities across the country at a cost of $300,000,000.

The first 10,000 facilities will hopefully be completed and put into operation by the end of 2025. The rest will be completed soon after that.

The toilet facilities will be sited at lorry stations, marketplaces, recreational centres, beaches and along highways.

But it seems some unscrupulous people want to hijack the project.

The CEO for Ghana First Company, Mr. Frank Akuley, who made this known in an interview with Peacefmonline.com, however, warned that his outfit will not allow any fraudster to give the project a bad name, adding that "it is open to everyone to apply through the main office but not through any politician or agent."

According to him, their attention have been drawn to the activities of some self-imposed agents of the company and even some MMDCEs who demand 5 to 10 percent before they lead any prospective client to pick up forms to be part of the process.

"....this is complete falsehood....the right percentage is only 2%," he stated.

According to him, though the company has entered into a public-private partnership (PPP) with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembles (MMDAs) to construct these facilities nationwide, it has not given any agent or MMDCEs the authority to represent his outfit.

He explained the modalities involved before one qualifies to partake in the project.

"....before the contract is awarded to the contractor, he/she must go through the payment of registration fee of GHc500 with a submission of company’s registration certificates, tax clearance certificate, company profile and ministry of water resources, works and housing classification certificate," he stated.

Mr. further warned that First Company does not recognize any sublet or lease contract to contractors.

Features

The facilities are in three categories: a 20-seater modern toilet facility which comes with a 20-seater W/C, 20 bathrooms, 20 urinals, one dressing room, one laundry room and two extra rooms to be used as stores.

There will also be a 12-seater modern toilet facility which will have a 12 seater W/C, 12 bathrooms and 12 urinals; a 10-seater modern toilet facility which will have a 10-seater W/C and 10 urinals, and an eight-seater toilet facility which will also have a 8 - seater W/C and 8 - urinals.

In addition, the toilets will be provided with an image sensor flushing system, an automated vending machine for access control, a reception fitted with television sets and sofa seats and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

The facilities will have two positive drilled boreholes each as a source of water supply for hand washing for improved hygiene. It will be operated solely on solar energy as a source of electricity, with the national grid as a backup.

Mosquito-repellent bulbs will be used at each facility to prevent malaria infections. The operation of the facility will be a 24-hour service with 15 personnel manning each facility, five attendants for every eight-hour shift.

Some Phase Near Completion

GHANA FIRST has already entered into a public-private partnership (PPP) with metropolitan, municipal and district assembles (MMDAs) to construct these facilities nationwide.

Mr Akuley further indicated that the company had already started constructing 38 of such projects, with some of them in far advanced states and near completion in certain districts in the Central, Brong Ahafo, Western, Greater Accra and Eastern regions, while over 90 contractors have also been awarded contracts.