PNC says it will introduce good housing policy

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March '99 -

The People's National Convention (PNC) on Thursday drew attention to the unhygienic conditions at Agbogbloshie in Accra and said it would introduce a housing policy that would check the development of slums if it came into power. "A PNC government will embark on a comprehensive policy of construction of flats and rental units, which will be rented out to workers at reasonable rates, leading to a scheme where those who occupy them would own them," Dr Edward Mahama, leader of the party, said. He was speaking at a press conference held at Agbogbloshie market, at which Mr Musah Nartey, a businessman, was introduced as the party's candidate to contest the Ablekuma Central by-election on March 26. Dr Mahama said he wondered whether Agbogbloshie should be called a market or a residential area since "about 20 people live in a shack measuring about 6 feet by 10 feet." "The people are compelled to live there because of shortage of decent accommodation, as there is no national housing policy". Dr Mahama said to ensure that the PNC achieves success in its housing policy, cheap local building materials, such as bricks and tiles, wood and sandcrete would be promoted in the building industry. "The operations of the State Housing Company, Tema Development Corporation and all other similar agencies shall be reviewed to make them to work in the interest of the ordinary worker." Dr Mahama said the party believes that the only way the present high rents in the country can be brought down is through 'massive investment' in the provision of cheap rental units for workers. He said the party would ensure "the provision of low-cost rural houses built with sandcrete blocks, developed and successfully tested by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)." Loans would be granted to the people in the rural areas through rural banks to upgrade their mud houses.