Takoradi Technical University has signed an agreement with CTA Development Group and its partners to construct a 23,280-bed capacity hostel at the TVET Campus at Aketekye.

This forms part of efforts to address the students' accommodation challenge facing the University.

Signing the MOU on behalf of the University, Vice-Chancellor of TTU, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun expressed happiness with the project which is expected to bridge the huge gap in students accommodation on the University campuses upon completion.

He emphasised that it completion will facilitate the relocation of the Engineering Faculty to the Akatekyi campus.

“We need the development at Aketekyi urgently and time is not on our side. The more we delay the more we also delay the work at Akatekyi. So immediately we sign, they will also quickly meet their counterparts and also speed up to actualize the Build Operate and Transfer”, he said.

Rev. Prof. Eshun assured CTA Development Group and its partners that the University is ready for the project and all the conditions therein to ease the work of the developers.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of CTA Development Group, Sam Nelson Cofie while expressing their commitment to the project also gave the project outline.

“What we have settled on right now is about 4,546 flats which will give us about 23,000 excess beds. The project cost which is part of the technical analysis is about $177million. A portion will go for the hostels and a portion for the integrated community or if you like an integrated business centre where you have accommodation or offices you can rent in order to complement facilities. We will also have the interchanging complexes where we have football parks which will cost about $25million”, he said.

In summary, Mr. Coffie said the facility project shall include Hostels Apartments, Integrated Business Centres, Recreational and Entertainment Centres, shops, library, offices, meeting rooms, a laundry and parking spaces.

The CTA and its strategic partners (Ishdaco Limited and Abutanya Engineering and Construction LTD) shall be solely responsible for the funding, design and construction of the facilities. Takoradi Technical University shall, however, designate parcels of land of approximately 30 Acre free from any encumbrance for the construction of the facility.

To ensure effective management of the facility, the parties shall form a joint management team to review issues such as pricing, discipline and student welfare. The joint management team shall be composed of a third-party renowned facility management company, representatives from CTA and a representative with the requisite experience from TTU.

Present at the signing on behalf of the University were the Director of Finance, Dr. Gabriel Sam Ahinful, the Director of Internal Audit, Elizabeth Obeng, Director of Works and Physical Development, Philip Kwaw and Deputy Registrar/Director of Academic Affairs, Gabriel Okronipa.

On the part of CTA Development Group and its partners were Moses Essel Ahun Engineering Consultant, Abutanya & Altimate Engineer and Dapilaah S. Raffiq, Ishdaco LTD.