Stop using Alu-zinc for costal schools in Jomoro-Chairman

Half-Assini, Oct. 6, GNA - Mr John Kwaw Ekoboe, the Chairman of the Ayebie Amihere Basic School Management Committee (SMC), has appealed to the Ghana Education Service to stop using Alu-zinc coated roofing sheets to roof schools in coastal towns in the Jomoro District, because they cannot withstand the sea breeze.

According to him, pure aluminum sheets have been tested to be suitable for buildings in coastal towns in the area.

Mr Ekorboe made the appeal after conducting the Ghana News Agency round to inspect the Half-Assini Catholic Basic School building that was roofed with Alu-zinc in 2013, and which had completely deteriorated in less than three years by the sea breeze.

The situation at the school has now become a burden on people of the town, adding that that could have been avoided if the contractor engaged on the project had listened to them, he said.

Mr Ekorboe said to avoid a similar occurrence of what had happened at the Catholic school, he was appealing to the government to change the Alu-Zinc being used to roof the Ayebie-Amihere Basic School in the town.

He expressed regret that the contractor had failed to adhere to requests, appeals and suggestions by the people, not to use Alu-zinc for the project.

According to him, the situation required changing those roofing sheets to avoid similar developments in future.

He stated that the materials could be used in any other inland town, instead of allowing them to be destroyed by the sea at Half Assini.

Mr Ekorboe said recently similar roofing sheets were used to roof a newly constructed classroom block funded by GNPC for the Methodist JHS in the town.

He stated that when the contractor's attention was drawn, he changed them into pure aluminum without any hesitation.

He said the Management Committee had petitioned the Jomoro District Assembly about the people's disagreement over the use of that unsuitable roofing sheet for their school project being undertaken by GETFUND.

The District Coordinating Director of the Assembly, Mr Abudu Amadu, who confirmed the development, said the Assembly had written to Akuffo & Associates, the consultant of the project, to that effect on receipt of the petition, but to no avail.

He said the consultant claimed that Alu-zinc was what was prescribed for them, under the bill of contract for the roofing, and could not do otherwise.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency in the district revealed that individuals constructing their houses did not use the Alu-zinc because of the high salty nature of the sea breeze.

The survey, however, revealed that the people rather used pre Aluminum or Asbestos roofing sheets which could withstand the breeze.

GNA