Minister justifies assemblies' purchase of Low Cost houses

Bolgatanga, April 11, GNA - Mr. Mark Woyongo, the Upper East Regional Minister, has said the decision of the Regional Coordinating Council and District Assemblies to purchase government low cost houses in the region was to ensure that workers posted to the region had accommodation. He said since there was no private estate developer in the Region it was very difficult getting accommodation for workers posted to the Region resulting in many of them refusing postings to the area. Last week occupants of government houses in the Region held a press conference in Bolgatanga to protest against the decision of the RCC and District Assemblies to purchase the houses instead of allowing the occupants to buy.

The occupants said in the 2004 budget statement, government set out a policy to sell Low cost houses across the country to tenants. They said attempts by them to purchase the houses had proved futile and they were surprised to hear that the RCC and the Assemblies had decided to purchase the houses and rent them out to workers.