300 billion cedis spent on housing project

Wamale(NR), July 17, GNA - Government has so far spent over 30 million Ghana cedis (300 billion cedis) in the construction of affordable houses to provide accommodation for workers in the country. Under the first phase of the "Government of Ghana Affordable Housing Project", about 100,000 housing units would be built in all regional capitals after, which similar facilities would be extended to the districts.

So far, the project has started in Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Takoradi.

Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Out-going Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, announced this when he cut the sod for the construction of affordable houses on 198 hectares at Wamale, near Tamale on Tuesday.

He said the affordable housing project would be designed as a complete residential area to comprise between one and three bedroom flats and living space to meet the standard of all categories of workers.

The residential area would have schools, health centres, police station, market and recreational facilities.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman said under the project workers would be provided with mortgage facilities to enable them purchase the houses outright while others would be rented out.

He assured workers that when the houses were completed the mode of purchase would be fair and transparent and urged contractors working on the project to ensure quality work.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman said the project would provide employment for the youth in Tamale Metropolis and urged the contractors to give priority to indigenes of the area when recruiting people.

He appealed for peace in Dagbon and reminded the people that there could be no development without peace.

Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, said the project was being undertaken at the appropriate time because the metropolis was facing an acute accommodation problem particularly, accommodation for doctors posted to Tamale Teaching Hospital. He admonished workers who would be employed on the project to avoid pilfering of building materials and other anti-social behaviour that would affect progress of work.