In a bid to address Ghana’s pressing housing and hydrology challenges, the Ministry of Works and Housing has announced the maiden edition of the Built Environment National Conference on Housing and Hydrology, BENCHH 2024.
The upcoming BENCHH conference which is scheduled from the 27th to 29th of May 2024 and will take place at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, 0930 hours each day, aims to foster collaboration and innovation in addressing these critical issues.
Under the theme “Enhancing Collaboration to tackle Ghana’s Housing and Hydrology Challenges,” the conference will engage stakeholders within the built environment to showcase recent advancements and outline a roadmap for sustainable development. It will delve into various challenges, including the housing deficit, flood management, and infrastructure financing.
In a media launch, the Deputy Minister- Designate for the Ministry of Works and Housing and Chairman of the BENCHH 2024 Planning Committee, Hon Dr. Prince Hamid Armah emphasized the vital role of policy formulation and effective implementation in driving national development.
“As you may be aware, the policy formulation and its subsequent efficient implementation stand as the fundamental pillars upon which a nation’s development is built. In this respect, the role of the Ministry of Works and Housing in guaranteeing and safeguarding the establishment of sustainable housing and infrastructure developments cannot be overemphasized.”
“The Ministry is mandated not only to develop sound policies but also supervise their effective execution, ensuring that they translate into improvements in the lives of the people,” Dr. Armah stated.
At the media launch, Reverend Stephen Yaw Osei, Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing, emphasized Ghana’s significant housing deficit of 1.8 million units.
He stressed the urgency of addressing this deficit to provide suitable housing for all Ghanaians. Reverend Osei also highlighted that 12.7 percent of houses in Ghana remain vacant, primarily due to people’s inability to afford them, resulting in unused properties.
BENCHH 2024 conference will represent an opportunity for stakeholders to share insights and collaborate on solutions for a more sustainable future. Through innovative approaches and collective efforts, the conference will pave the way for enduring progress and prosperity in Ghana’s Works and Housing Sectors.
