SSNIT recommits to addressing housing challenges in Ghana

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) says it was gearing up to complete about 1,072 housing units of the Asokore Mampong Housing Project by December this year.

Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang, the Director-General said the Trust was committed to working closely with the government to address the housing challenges facing the Country.

Speaking to journalists after a tour of the Asokore Mampong Affordable Housing Project, he said the Trust had already completed and started the sale of 1,464 housing units at Borteyman in the Greater Accra Region.

The estimated cost for the completion of the project was US$62.34 million and it is being fully funded by SSNIT, he added.

He explained that this amount excluded the total sum spent by the government between 2006, when the project began, and 2008, prior to the time the project stalled in early 2009.

The government of Ghana as part of interventions to reduce the housing deficit, begun an Affordable Housing Project at various locations in five regions of the country.

Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang said the project consisted of 91 blocks of 1, 2, and 3-bedrooms flats with complementary infrastructure and community facilities.

The community facilities included their management blocks, tarred internal road network with drains and paved walkways, car parks, sewage treatment plants, external power supply and police stations.

The project is being undertaken by 75 contractors with 16 subcontractors and 8 infrastructure contractors.

Hinting on the mode of sales of the housing units, the SNNIT Director-General said, they had partnered some banks that will provide mortgage loans to interested purchasers, and that, institutional purchasers, including banks, schools, trade associations and individuals could purchase whole or sections of the blocks for its members.

Dr. Kwame Addo-Kuffuor, the Board Chairman of SSNIT, expressed satisfaction at the progress of work at the site and pledged that they would ensure the successful completion in record time.

They also will make sure they settled accrued debts among the contractors.