A contract to rehabilitate the six-storey Cocobod building in Sunyani has been awarded to Premier Shelter Limited, an Accra based civil engineering and building construction firm.
Work on the project, expected to be completed within a year, was begun last week.
Construction of the Cocoa House, the tallest and biggest edifice in Brong Ahafo, was completed for more than two decades ago but was commissioned by former President Jerry John Rawlings on December 4, 1996.
At a meeting with tenants in the edifice in Sunyani recently, Mr. Emmanuel Aggor, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL), consultants for the project, said the contract involved the changing of both depreciated internal and external fittings of the building.
Mr. Aggor explained that the refurbishment include the changing of the doors and windows, hacking of wall finishing to be replaced by mosaic tiles, provision of ramps for the physically challenged, replacement of ceilings and toilet facilities.
He added that, the existing services like electrical installations, fire alarms and telephone systems would be rectified while plumbing services such as a new cesspit tank would also be provided.
The regional director added that a parking shelter had been included in the re-designation of the car parking space at both the front and rear sides of the building but however, explained that the shelter would not be enough for all tenants.
The cost and source of funding of the project was not disclosed at the meeting and efforts by the GNA to obtain the estimated cost proved futile as all officials involved remained tight lipped.