President Akufo-Addo was joined by both the Majority and Minority leaders to commission the building
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday commissioned the newly constructed “Job 600” Annex building, the Chamber support services block, drivers’ waiting centre and a visitor’s waiting centre for Parliament.
The project, executed under the Parliament House Physical Infrastructure Enhancement Project, forms part of measures aimed at addressing comprehensively the gaps in infrastructure faced by Parliament over the years.
Commissioning the project, President Akufo-Addo applauded the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye, the leadership of Parliament and the Parliamentary Service Board for ensuring that the projects, whose sod-cutting took place on 22nd February 2018, were completed within schedule.
Enhancing governance
President Akufo-Addo noted that if Ghana is to be successful in deepening her democracy, there must be a true separation of powers among the various arms of government.
This, he stressed, requires adequate resourcing of Parliament with the requisite infrastructure and logistics to help it function effectively.
“That is why the Government of Nana Akufo-Addo, since its assumption of office on January 7 2017, has increased cumulatively the budgetary allocation to the House by 56.6 per cent and has committed itself to supporting the Parliamentary Service Board to initiate and implement various projects necessary for the efficient work of the Legislature,” the President said.
After the refurbishment in 2015, of the State House Tower Block, popularly referred to as “Job 600” building, not all Members of Parliament could be accommodated in the building.
“To remedy the situation for the unlucky MPs, and also to meet other physical infrastructural needs of the House, Government took up the challenge to provide the requisite finances to support Parliament in undertaking the Physical Infrastructure Enhancement Project,” he said.
He added: “You can, therefore, understand my delight at being here today to inaugurate these important office facilities, which would provide MPs and staff of the Parliamentary Service with adequate, well-equipped work spaces to enable them perform their functions in a conducive environment.”
The President urged the Parliamentary Service Board to put in place the requisite mechanisms, including the necessary facility management arrangements, to ensure the regular maintenance of these newly constructed buildings, as well as all existing edifices.
About building
The Job 600 Annex is a six-storey building with 44 offices (nine on each floor), 36 offices for research assistants, nine kitchenettes, nine washrooms, one per floor for males, females and persons with disability, two convenience shops, one financial facility, a 150 seater multi-purpose hall with a media room, eleven offices for supporting staff and archives at the basement.
The Chamber Support Services Block is a three-storey building with 26 offices for Staff of the Parliamentary Service, two meeting rooms, three kitchenettes, four washrooms, one kitchen, connection into the Chamber Block and the old administration block from all three levels, three large storage rooms, electrical panel room (serving the Chamber, Speaker’s Block, the old and new administration blocks and the Drivers’ and Visitors’ Waiting Centre).
The Drivers’ Waiting Centre consists of one office, a reception area, 60 to100-seater area for drivers, an eating area, a snack bar, and a washroom (male/female).
The Visitors’ Waiting Centre also consists of one office, a reception area, 250-seater waiting area, an eating area, a snack bar and a washroom (male/female).
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