Gov’t Committed to Completing Housing Projects Started by Previous Administrations – Asenso Boakye

The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has reaffirmed the Akufo-Addo government’s dedication to completing various housing projects initiated by previous administrations.

Speaking at the commencement of the Pokuase Housing Project, the Minister emphasized the government’s focus on providing affordable homes for ordinary Ghanaians.

Among the projects under consideration is the Saglemi Housing Project, which encountered challenges during its implementation. The Minister attributed the project’s setbacks to issues in project conception and funding.

However, he assured that significant steps have been taken to complete ongoing projects, including those in Asokore Mampong, Borteyman, and Kpone.

“In 2006, under the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor, government launched an Affordable Housing Programme which aimed to construct 5000 housing units in six (6) different towns over a five-year period. Unfortunately, despite the noble intentions, the project did not yield the anticipated outcomes, due to challenges in project conception and funding.”

“However, significant steps have been taken by government to complete some of the projects, including completed ones at Asokore Mampong in the Ashanti region, Borteyman and Kpone in the Greater Accra region, while the others are being given the due consideration,” he added.

He indicated that similarly, the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, which was initiated by the NDC government in 2012, also faced fundamental challenges that halted its progress. The current government is diligently working to revive the project and address the country’s housing needs.

To ensure the success of the Pokuase Housing Project, the lawmaker said that the government has undertaken necessary feasibility and viability processes.

The revised program offers “free unencumbered land and associated infrastructure” to the private sector for the construction of housing units at an agreed selling price. This approach has been designed based on valuable insights gained from past experiences, emphasizing a comprehensive review of the public housing profile.

“Unlike the previous efforts, this revised programme stands out, as distinct and exceptional in multiple ways. This distinction arises primarily from the valuable insights gained from our past experiences, inspiring our commitment to approach things the right way, this time.”

“When I assumed office in 2021, we took the decision to undertake a comprehensive review of the public housing profile. This review led to the development of a revised framework, which consist of two (2) parts: the supply-side and the demand-side,” he added.

On the supply-side, the government provides land and associated infrastructure, while the private sector takes on the responsibility of constructing the housing units for subsequent sale at an agreed price.

With a commitment to learn from past challenges, the Akufo-Addo government aims to create a more efficient and inclusive housing delivery system, ensuring that the Pokuase Housing Project and others like it succeed in meeting the housing needs of the Ghanaians.

Story by Nana Kwaku Boffah (Parliamentary Correspondent)