The cost of classroom and dormitory blocks, under the Senior High School emergency infrastructure project, generated an argument in Parliament yesterday, with some Members of Parliament on the Minority side sensing �chop chop�.
There were shouts of �thieves�, �chop, chop�, and �greedy bustards� from the Minority side, perhaps to express their disagreement over the unit cost of the classroom and dormitory blocks as the Minister of Education, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, quoted the prices.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu was responding to a question filed by the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Simon Osei-Mensah, who wanted to know the unit cost of the 161 six-unit classrooms and each of the 55 two-storey dormitory blocks.
A loan of GH�85million from CAL Bank Ghana Limited was approved by Parliament on Thursday, March 17, 2011 but since the details of the project were not stated, the MP for Bosomtwe posed the question for the Minister to tell the house how much the construction of each of the blocks would cost.
In her submission, the minister told the house the cost of the project varied as a result of the location and cost of labour.
One hundred and forty units, out of the 161 six-unit classroom blocks, have been awarded under the quick fix contract at a total cost of GH�23 million while the rest would be constructed by the Ghana Armed Forces at a cost of GH�5, 457,622.52. The total cost of the two-storey blocks is GH�42, 158,723.50.
In the Eastern Region, a unit block of the classroom would cost GH�254,570; in Brong Ahafo it would coast GH�263,963. Similar unit blocks are estimated to cost GH�261,681.31 in the Ashanti region and GH�260,343 in the Central region.
For the two-storey building, the Minister stated that it would cost GH�771, 891 in the Central region; GH�671,210 in Greater Accra; GH�839,012 in Upper West; GH�822,000 in Upper East and GH�792,028 in the Northern Region.
However, according to the Minister of Education, the rest of the two-storey dormitory block in the Eastern and Ashanti regions would cost GH�747,000 and GH�771,891 respectively, while in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions, an amount of GH�733,331 and 778,604 would be needed for the construction.
Part of the loan is also expected to be spent on consultation fees, purchasing of furniture to furnish the classrooms and dormitories and contingencies which is being awarded under the quick fix contract.
After the house had been furnished with the information, the MP for Bosomtwe stated that in 2008, the then government constructed a six-classroom block with facilities such as toilet and library, among other things, at a cost of GH�84,000 in the Ashanti region and wondered why �in spite of the current state of macroeconomic stability, as claimed by the incumbent government, there is over 200 percent increase in the cost of a similar project�.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu explained that the unit cost of the classrooms and the two-storey blocks varied, as the contract involved the use of different materials.
Member of Parliament for Ahafo-Ano South S. K. Balado Manu queried, �How can a social democrat government that should be against profligate spending ensure that the nation gets value for money?�
He was informed by the Minister that her ministry was in consultation with the consultants and contractors to ensure that quality was guaranteed.
Later, the minister surprised Members of Parliament and other observers in the House when she said she did not know the core subjects offered by students undertaking the four-year Senior High School programme.
�Madam Speaker, I will find it difficult know the core courses,� she said when Prof Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, MP for Techiman North who posed the question, insisted that she should know.
She then answered that �the core subjects are English, Mathematics, Science and ICT�, after it appeared she had consulted members on the Majority side and her deputy, Mahama Ayariga.
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