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Danger Looms At Sakumono SSNIT Flat

By Daily Guide
General News Danger Looms At Sakumono SSNIT Flat
NOV 3, 2015 LISTEN

Residents of Sakumono Estate in Tema have criticized the Social Security and Insurance Trust (SSNIT) for putting up some apartments in a swampy area.

The execution of the project is said to have affected the transmission line of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

Residents said the water emanating from the burst pipeline after excavation could affect the building.

Acticon Engineering and Construction, the contractor who is building six apartments, which form part of the SSNIT F-Link project being constructed behind the old Sakumono Flat, is said to have ignored several complaints from the residents.

Some years ago, similar projects were constructed in the area and six-storey buildings were demolished and rebuilt as a result of shoddy work.

A visit to the site by DAILY GUIDE revealed that workers were busily working in the pool of water where the residents suspect the pipeline ruptured.

They placed a pumping machine in the area to pump out the water from the foundation of the building.

Engineer Appiah of GCWL in Tema, in an interview with DAILY GUIDE over the concerns from the residents, explained that his outfit visited the scene but did not detect any damaged pipeline.

He admitted that some of the buildings were constructed in the water, adding that the area is wetland.

Osei Bonsu, chief consultant of the project, downplayed the concerns of residents about the burst pipeline.

He claimed the residents were exaggerating, adding that water was emanating from illegal connected pipelines.

Mr Bonsu said the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) granted permit to them and that was the reason why they were still building in the water.

Building in such area is very dangerous and could lead to disaster in the future; we would create other sewer lane for the old residents in the flats who have illegally connected their sewer into that of GWCL.

But the residents disagreed with him, saying it is very dangerous for one to occupy such property since it could collapse because of the water.

They called on the contractor to do due diligence to address the problems.

The residents said SSNIT must intensify its supervisory role to ensure the contractor carries out professional work.

Joe Didoh, Resident Engineer told DAILY GUIDE that they had resolved to use pumping machine to enable them execute the project, explaining that immediately the foundation is refilled, the water would stop flowing.

'So far we have detected three flats doing the illegal waste water connection and we plan to disconnect them in order to safeguard the building,' he added.

From Vincent Kubi, Sakumono

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