The Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has highlighted the government’s attempts to solve Ghana’s housing shortfall through the construction of unit houses.
In an interview with Accra-based television, the former Information Minister, highlighted the unit houses being created under the Affordable Housing Project.
Oppong Nkrumah stated that they are accelerating the construction of 8,000 dwellings in Pokuase and 320 units in Tesano, mostly for security purposes.
We’re working on 8,000 units in Pokuase at the moment. Every two weeks, I have meetings with the organisers and developers, and I visit the site once a month. We have decided that because I have already visited the site once, I will return each month to further advance the project.
“That represents 8,000 out of 10,000. About 320 Tesano residences have been identified for security services, and we are moving quickly to complete the work on them. I have given us until June to turn the properties over to the security services.”
The MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi also reiterated the government’s commitment to finish the 325 houses that were started under previous President J.A. Kufuor’s administration.
“Koforidua has about 325 homes from [former] President J. A Kufuor’s initiative that are still outstanding and it’s still there, dilapidating, we’re currently going through a process with the State Housing Company. Where we can bring on board the private sector that can fund the completion of those projects. And then put them off onto the market. Just Friday, I will be in Kumasi, we just want to hand over 30 units that we just completed.”
He stated that he hoped to create a set of policies that would act as a guide for upcoming ministers.
“We don’t expect to finish or build 1.8 million homes today, but my target is that we can deliver a policy framework acceptable to the cabinet and parliament so that ministers under me can then pick it and turn because the blueprint would have been laid.”
