Accra, April 30, GNA - The Royal Netherlands Embassy and Interberton Netherlands B.V., a Dutch-based construction company, on Saturday signed a contract for the construction of a new five million-Euro Chancery for the Embassy.
Mr Arie Van der Wiel, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Ghana, signed for the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr Martin Egas, Contract Manager of Interbeton Netherland B.V., signed for the company.
The new chancery to be constructed at the vicinity of the present Embassy situated at the Ako Adjei Interchange, formerly Sankara Circle, would replace both the Embassy built since 1961 and the adjacent Visa and Legislation section.
Construction of the new Chancery would start shortly and it is expected to be completed within 18 months and would enable the Embassy to be more functional to respond to present day needs.
Mr Wiel said the signing ceremony was held on April 30 to coincide with Holland's National Day and the official birthday of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the Silver Jubilee of the Queen's investiture.
He said the idea for a new Chancery was mooted in 1992 but since it did not receive any budgetary support it had to be on the drawing board for some time.
The new Chancery was designed by Zdenek Zavrel of Ateleir Z, architects based in the Netherlands.
The new embassy would be a compact, white natural stone block building in the middle of the Embassy garden designed to meet the climate conditions and to make both visitors and personnel comfortable. Mr Egas said though the company was Dutch-based, a considerable contribution would be provided by Ghanaian sub-contractors such as Orange Construction Company Ltd for building works, Mandilas Ghana Ltd for mechanical installations while Atlantic Works Ltd would undertake the electrical installations.
