Government says it has secured a loan of $24million for the completion of the State House Tower, popularly known as Job 600. Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) provided the loan. Although a date has not been set for the start of work, Deputy Works and Housing Minister, Hannah Bissiw, says work would commence soon. The minister however disclosed that stakeholder discussions must set out modalities for the completion of the project. But such talks can only start when Parliament resumes sitting in October because there are moves to put the building in shape and hand it over to Parliament for use as offices for MPs. Mrs Bissiw said the execution of the project has become even more urgent as Parliamentarians would soon engage research assistants to help out in their work. She bemoaned what she said has been an unfortunate spectacle at Parliament House where members virtually use their cars as offices. “So they are moving offices, it’s very bad,” she told Joy News reporter Seth Kwame Boateng. “We really…have urgency to work on Job 600 to make sure in the short possible time our honourable Members of Parliament can have access to their decent office.” Job 600 was the building that hosted the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in 1965, under the chairmanship of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president. Although there has been debate over whether or not the building could still be put to use after being abandoned for year, a closure has been brought to the issue as civil engineers say the edifice is solid. Civil engineers, Twum Boafo and Partners have said the tower block of the magnificent 12-floor edifice is solid and when rehabilitated, could serve the purpose for which it is intended. Managing Director of the company, Mr Addo Abedi, disclosed this to the leadership of the previous Parliament when he presented a report of an assessment of the building. The company assessed the steel reinforcement, the columns, the drainage system, partitions, the concrete strength, steel works and the roofing systems of the structure. The last Parliament promised that the House would study the report that made a number of recommendations for the refurbishment of the building. When completed, Job 600 will provide office accommodation for all 230 legislators. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com