Chinese contractors have started work on the permanent site for the University of Health and Allied Sciences at Sokode near Ho.
The work being undertaken at the site includes laying of a foundation for the building of temporary accommodation and offices for the foreign workers, pegging and erecting of a security fence wall, surveying, and raising of pillars.
Speaking to the media at the site, the Site Engineer, Mr. Michael Shang, disclosed that heavy equipment, including bulldozers, caterpillars, tipper-trucks, rollers and fork-lifters, as well as experts, would soon arrive in the country to facilitate the work.
Mr. Shang revealed that since the arrival of the contractors on site, things have not been smooth as they expected, because there was no water and electricity at the project site, in addition to access roads, which are also lacking.
The Site Engineer, therefore, appealed to the government to provide water and electricity at the site, and also improve upon the road network leading to the place.
According to him, the workers currently depend on tanker services and only work during the day, instead of day and night.
Mr. Shang also expressed concern over the refusal of the youth in the area to take up employment opportunities available, which, he stressed, was another challenge confronting the execution of the project.
According to him, the youth claimed Chinese contractors did not pay workers well, hence their refusal to work with them, an allegation he denied.
Some of the youth in the area also told The Chronicle that when the Chinese arrived, they went to them to seek employment, but were told that they would only be paid GH�8 per day, which they thought was not enough, and therefore, proposed GH�25.
According to them, the Chinese promised to get back to them, but to date, nothing had been heard from them.
Meanwhile, the government is currently constructing a multi-purpose auditorium at the temporary campus of the university. The structure, which is at the roofing level, would serve as an entertainment, conference, and assembly hall.
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