Accra (Greater Accra) 5 May ’99

Twum-Boafo and Partners, consultants for the rehabilitation of the Accra and Kumasi Stadiums, has ordered Arab Contractors to stop fixing the remaining Polypropylene seats at the Accra Stadium.

Mr Kwaku Twum-Boafo, Executive Chairman of the consulting firm, said the present concrete slabs at the Osu Stands and Upper Terrace on which the seats are to be fixed, "have developed serious cracks which need to be repaired" before the seats are fixed.

He was reacting to a series of allegations made by Mr William Fayorsey, a journalist, before the Tagoe Committee investigating the award of contract for the rehabilitation of the two stadiums in Accra on Tuesday.

Mr Fayorsey has alleged that the seats are sub-standard, the cost of refurbishment of the press box was too high and the work undertaken by Arab contractors was shoddy.

Mr Fayorsey, who was also scheduled to appear before the committee together with his source, Solo Akutey to substantiate his allegations, failed to turn up.

Mr Twum-Boafo said "the slabs slope backwards and collect a lot of water

when it rains, which causes leakage at the VIP box and other places".

He indicated that he would consult the Ministry of Youth and Sports as to how best the stands, which were not part of the rehabilitation work carried out by Arab Contractors, could be repaired before the seats are fixed.

Reacting to the quality of the seats, witness said the current Polypropylene seats "falls within a whole range of specifications in FIFA's statute".

FIFA does not specify a particular type of seats for a stadium but rather insists that it must be comfortable and should fall within a certain range and height.

Mr Twum-Boafo said the glass reinforced plastic type which Mr Fayorsey alleged should have been supplied, would have cost the nation seven times more than the present one.

He cited several advantages that the Polypropylene type has over the glass type which include among others, easy recycling, climatic friendliness and deformation advantage.

Witness, who backed his assertion with laboratory reports from the suppliers, Compopraha of the Czech Republic, said the Polypropylene has been in the system for the past 27 years as against 25 years in the case of the glass reinforced plastics.

Asked whether the seats could be tested locally, he said, "it is possible but would take a long period of time".

On the leakage of the VIP box, he said the original scope of work did not include "any waterproofing", so the contractors could not be held responsible.

He admitted however that waterproof should have been a different exercise of its own.

On the cost of rehabilitation of the press centre, Mr Twum-Boafo said "who ever made that allegation knows nothing about cost".

He asked the committee to cross check with any other company on the cost of refurbishment.

Mr Twum-Boafo appeared together with Mr Mohammed Amgad Samir, Project

Manager of Arab Contractors.

Sitting continues.

GRi../