Abrogate UHAS roads’ contract awarded to Ussuya!. VC pleads as maiden graduation beckons

The roads leading to the permanent site of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) at Sokode, near Ho, are a far cry from the distinguished buildings that will host the University’s maiden graduation this July 2016.

A recent interview granted by the University’s Director of Works and Physical Development, Dr W. Vidogah, revealed the following troubling facts; the 17-kilometre road project, commenced in January 2013 is already over 24 good months behind schedule, given that it was scheduled to be completed by July 2014. Secondly, while the UHAS road project is only 18.3 per cent complete, contractors have already pocketed 22 per cent of the contract fee, with the Vice Chancellor stating emphatically that ‘the work done so far is not commensurate with the amount of money paid to the contractor.’ 

This assertion is supported by the facts as a report issued by the consultants to the project, Ghana Highway Authority, reveals that while the work done so far is worth GH¢3, 566, 743.21, Ussuya Gh Limited has already been paid GH¢9,255, 245.76 by the Government of Ghana, with the Ministry of Roads and Highways/Ghana Highway Authority as the implementing agency woefully failing to ensure strict adherence to the stipulations of the contract. The roads are currently in a deplorable state, as they continually suffer the effects of erosion. 

Further investigations have revealed that the full scope of work in the contract is as follows; improvement of the road alignment at some sections, site clearance, cutting, filling and widening to formation, provision of drainage structures, construction of sub base and natural gravel base courses, sealings, and provision of traffic signs and road markings. The road is required to be constructed in line with standards issued by the Ghana Highway Authority as a “single and dual carriage way.” 

In an interview granted the Ghanaian Times, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fred Binka, expressed serious frustration at the state of affairs. He lamented about how ‘the government of Ghana had spent huge money to build the university and some other people were working to ensure that the University did not succeed.’ Subsequently, he called for the swift abrogation of the contract to Ussuya Gh Ltd given the hugely delayed implementation and the consistent refusal of the main contractor to turn up for meetings called to discuss progress of work, sometimes sending junior staff with no mandate to take important decisions or to speak with clarity on the issues. 

The University of Health and Allied Sciences was set up by an Act of Parliament in 2011 (Act 828) with the vision of becoming a preeminent research and practically oriented University dedicated to community service. UHAS admitted its first batch of students in September 2012, a total of 154 students in five schools, and is currently preparing to hold its historic maiden graduation. In June 2016, UHAS graduated the first batch of Nursing and Midwifery students that went through the University’s sandwich programme. 

As part of events planned to commemorate the maiden graduation ceremony, UHAS has instituted the UHAS Leadership Lectures series, named after President Mills. The maiden Prof. John Evans Atta Mills Memorial lectures will thus be delivered on July 14 and 15 by Professor Samuel Kofi Sefa- Dedeh, a distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Food Sciences and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force Planning Committee for two public universities & chairman of the Millennium Development Authority.  Professor Sefa-Dedeh will speak to ‘Leadership in the shaping of higher education in Ghana— The legacy of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills’ and ‘Positioning Higher Education to lead the Transformation Of National Values And Development.’ The venue would be the UHAS auditorium.