Accra, Ghana: Presentation to Office of Building Operations and Bureau of African Affairs on New...

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Embassy Accra welcomes OBO General Williams and staff to

Accra, Ghana - the Gateway to West Africa

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Vision Statement Mission in transition.

Embassy Accra is making the migration from a mid-sized post to a full-scale regional embassy hub concurrent with the emergence of Ghana as a stable, democratic regional leader in West Africa and with the growth of USG interests in the sub-region.

Co-location is the objective.Our vision and our long-term direction is no less than the co-location of all USG agencies on one site, to achieve needed economies of scale in security and operational efficiency.

Our present configuration……

USG agencies and Embassy sections in Accra

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GSO COMPOUND RUSHMOREBUDFIELD

GSO/CONSULAR/INS

USAIDPUBLIC AFFAIRS

CHANCERY

3.2 miles

1.2 miles

2.3 miles

3.3 miles

2.2 miles

PEACE CORPS

3.4 miles

MARINE HOUSE

4.2 miles

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Various GO/LTL/STL PropertiesGovernment-owned, LTL, and STL non-residential propertiesare spread out over a fifteen square mile area. Most sitescan be reached by car from the chancery within 10 to 15minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

Principal Mission facilities are located at the following sites:

Main Chancery GSO/Consular/INS AnnexUSAID Rushmore Warehouse CompoundPeace Corps BudfieldPublic Affairs Desert

Other Government-owned facilities include the EMR and theOther Government-owned facilities include the EMR and theDCMR.DCMR.

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Today’s Situation Embassy operations are decentralized, scattered

between the chancery and five office locations in Accra.

Natural tensions which may exist between USG agencies and between sections within the Embassy are exacerbated by the geographical separation.

Post management must hold daily and weekly meetings between Embassy sections and USG agencies to offset separation and poor communication links.

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How Did We Get Here?

As with most diplomatic missions in the region, in the beginning all agencies were co-located.

Over time, mission expansion dictated the need for additional facilities.

In the absence of long-term planning and security constraints (pre-Inman), the mission spread out to various locations throughout the city.

Recent security considerations and the need for operational efficiency point to the advantages of returning to co-location.

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Goals and Objectives

Operational efficiency• Adequate oversight of multi-million dollar programs• Communications between USG agencies

Security for all personnel• Adequate setback for all facilities• Enhanced access control for all facilities

Long-range planning for Program expansion• Expansion of CAA space requirements

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Our Chancery

Vital statistics

LTL, $110,000 per year Office space: 10,387 sq. ft. net

Tenants: STATE, ICASS, DAO, USDA, 77 employees Setback deficiencies: no setback on sides and in rear

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Chancery from across the street

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Additional Chancery offices in rear

CLO and Public Cashier to the rightCLO and Public Cashier to the right B&F and Health Unit in the backB&F and Health Unit in the back

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Additional Chancery offices on side

RADIO SHOP, MAIL ROOM, PROGRAM FSN OFFICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS SHOP

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Chancery next-door neighbors

RIGHT SIDE LEFT SIDE

RIGHT SIDEBACK

Public Affairs

Vital statistics

LTL, $82,000 per year. Office space: 9,410 sq. ft. net.

Tenants: PA, IBB/VOA, FCS, State Program and ICASS, 28 employees.

Setback deficiencies: no setback in rear or on sides.

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Public Affairs

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICES, PRINT SHOP INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTER, FCS OFFICES

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Public Affairs from the street

Public affairs from street Front gate

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GSO/Consular Annex

Vital statistics

LTL, $5.32 per year (leased in Cedis when 1 Cedi = 1 USD) Office space: 3,810 sq. ft.

Tenants: NIV, IV, ACS, GSO sections, 48 employees Setback deficiencies: no setback. Street closed to vehicular

traffic on consular side.

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GSO/Consular Annex

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INS Offices and GSO Warehouse

STL, 6,300 SQ. FT., $28,800 PER YEAR

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Rushmore Maintenance/Warehouse

CompoundVital Statistics

Two adjacent properties: no setback.

Rushmore A: STL, $38,000 per year: 12,000 sq. ft. offices, warehouses, shops.

Rushmore B: STL, $48,000 per year: 43,000 sq. ft. warehouses, shops, parking.

120 employees on maintenance and warehouse staffs.

Setback deficiencies: no setback.

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Rushmore Offices - STL

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Scenes from Rushmore

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Rushmore warehouses and shops

3-story apt bldg. under construction

Desert

Stats: 4.5 acres, LTL

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Desert - Judges Quarters

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Desert

POTENTIAL SITE FOR GSO MAINTENANCE/WAREHOUSE COMPOUND

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Scenes from Desert

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GOIL Property – Viewed from Desert

PARTIALLY SEPARATES DESERT FROM BUDFIELD

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Budfield

Eight acres of land – 50 year lease with two renewable options.

Presently contains staff housing (apartments), TDY housing units and recreation facilities (tennis court, swimming pool, soccer field, baseball/softball field).

Could conceivably serve as site for NOB, preserving housing units and swimming pool and relocating other recreational facilities.

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Budfield Aerial photo

DESERT

GOIL

AREA AVAILABLE

FOR NOB 100 ft. setback

from eachwall

2.25 acres98K sq. ft.

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Scenes from Budfield

PARKING LOT AND TENNIS COURT

STAFF APARTMENTS TDY APARTMENTS

BUDFIELD POOL

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USAID

Vital Statistics

LTL, $58,000 per year 18,484 sq. ft. net, 108 employees

Narrow alley entry from street poses significant bottleneck threat

Setback deficiencies: no setback on sides or rear

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Scenes from USAID

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Official residences

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EMR

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DCMR

Recommending a Strategy

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Immediate requirements

Chancery electrical review/upgrade

Chancery/Annex space survey

DCMR bathrooms rehabilitation

OBO lease waiver approval for Rushmore warehouses

OBO approval for enclosure of consulate waiting area

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Mid-term Objectives 2003-2004

Interim solution - co-location of all administrative sections.

Completion of space renovations recommended by space and electrical reviews.

Replacement of EMR and DCMR furniture as needed.

Long-term lease for alternate Rushmore facility.

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Available Options – short to mid-termMove all administrative functions out of chancery to freeup space for expanding CAA/Program tenants.

• Concentrate Administrative sections at AnnexAdvantage: improved operational efficiencyDisadvantages: Annex lease concerns; zero setback

• Transfer all Admin and GSO functions to NOB at Desert Advantages: improved operational efficiency, better CCCDisadvantage: Admin NOB costs could postpone Mission NOB

• Move all Admin to preexisting apt. buildings at BudfieldAdvantage: buildings rule out need for new constructionDisadvantage: cancels out approved project to rehab Budfield apts

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Long-term Objective

Co-location on already available site addresses and resolves:

• operational and administrative concerns,

• security considerations, and • long-term growth projections

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Recommendations in order of priority

Move Accra up the NOB list.Accra has a site and needs an NOB. Admin and consular have formal regional responsibilities. Other offices/agencies also have regional responsibilities, i.e., INS, RCO, and USAID. Once the airport expansion project is completed, it is expected that Accra will grow as a regional transportation hub and other offices/agencies with regional responsibilities will want to relocate here.

Consolidate all administrative sections.

Move all administrative functions to a single site, freeing up chancery space for projected CAA/Program expansion. Satisfy immediate chancery prerequisites for expansion: i.e., space survey, electrical upgrade.

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Embassy Accraappreciates

your visit to Accra, Ghana -

the Gateway to West Africa

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More Vital Statistics

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Annual Facility leasing costs

Chancery Public Affairs USAID GSO/Consular INS/EXP Rushmore A Rushmore B

TOTAL

$111,00082,00058,000

528,80038,00048,000

$365,805

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Total space requirements (sq. ft. net)

FACILITY FACILITY SQ. FT. NET SQ. FT. NET SQ.FT. PER PERSONSQ.FT. PER PERSON

ChanceryUSAIDPublic AffairsINSConsular/GSODAO (projected)Growth (15%)

TOTAL

10,38618,4849,4103,1503,8103,0007,236

55,476

13517133663079

333na

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Residential housing vital stats

No. of rental units: 37 No. of Government-owned units: 3 Average annual lease cost/unit: $25,113.00 Average annual utilities cost/unit: $350.00 Average security cost/residence: $7,200.00

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