MCE denies buying low cost houses

Ho, May 28, GNA - Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, has denied buying 72 low cost houses being put up for sale by government at the Mawuli Estates in Ho.

On the contrary, the Ho Municipal Assembly has made representations to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to review the cost of the houses, Mr Goh said.

He said this when he explained issues pertaining to the sale of the houses at the second meeting of the Ho Municipal Assembly in Ho on Tuesday.

Mr Goh said what was in the custody of the assembly regarding the sale of the houses was an offer letter from the ministry to the assembly and not allocation letters meant for those occupying those houses. The ministry mandated the assembly to identify legitimate occupants of the houses who are not necessarily individuals but departments. Where departments are unable to buy the houses allocated to them, the opportunity would be given to the staff occupying such houses. He said the ministry requested from the assembly whether it wanted to buy some of the houses for its staff including those of decentralized departments.

Mr Goh said the assembly would need about 5.8 billion cedis being total cost of the houses, 20 percent of which was to be paid as deposit to be able to buy the houses.

He said the assembly considered the prices quoted as too high and had asked the ministry to review them downwards with indications that the request would be granted.

"I don't think I have done anything bad in this case", he said. Regarding estate development in the municipality, Mr Goh said a Chinese investor had expressed interest in investing in estate development.

He said already 30 acres of land had been earmarked for the project that would involve hire-purchase arrangements for public and civil servants over a period of 15 years for houses costing from up to 250 million cedis without a deposit. 28 May 08