The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye says the President Akufo-Addo is committed to completing all housing projects started by previous governments.
Mr Asenso-Boakye said the government is taking the necessary steps to revive the Saglemi Housing Project and others which encountered fundamental challenges.
The Minister who was speaking at the commencement of the Pokuase Housing Project at Pokuase on Tuesday, August 1, said the current government is focused on building affordable homes for the ordinary Ghanians.
In his address, the Minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) Bantama constituency in the Ashanti Region revealed some of the reasons the Saglemi Housing Project has stalled.
“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.”
“Similarly, in 2012, under the leadership of President John Evans Atta Mills, and later President John Mahama, the NDC Government also initiated the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, with the intention of addressing the country’s housing needs. Regrettably, this project also encountered fundamental challenges, which halted the project due to various factors. Government is taking the necessary steps to revive the project.”
“These projects did not progress as expected, primarily, because it failed to consider the entire ecosystem involved in the delivery of housing, such as the availability of land, infrastructure, sustainable funding, building materials, and an inclusive demand-side arrangement,” he said.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker said the Pokuase Housing Project has been taken through the necessary feasibility and viability processes to ensure it does not face the challenges of the previous ones.
According to him, the government in this project will offer “free unencumbered land and associated infrastructure” to the private sector to construct the housing units at an agreed selling price.
“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.”
“On the supply-side, the government will provide free unencumbered land and associated infrastructure, after which the private sector will be invited to construct the housing units for its subsequent sale at an agreed selling price.”
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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These so called politicians? Close to seven years today, you came and met this Saglemi housing project almost completed. You close your eyes and ears to it only to turn round one and half years to the end of your tenure to say you are committed to completing it? You speak to people who sat in the same classroom with you and were more brilliant and intelligent as if you are speaking to people who have no brains. Today we are being told some of the wirings, doors, windows and door frames have been stolen at the Saglemi site meaning government will have to re fix them at the expense of the already over burdened Ghana tax payer. What have Ghanaians done wrong to continue to be treated this way by people (so called politicians) who got their positions through their( the masses) votes. How do you feel when you see your own people whose welfare you swore to uphold seeking shelter under flyovers, interchanges and shoulders of roads in Accra at night? Today some workers are refusing transfers to Accra because of lack of accommodation or high rent charges. Meanwhile the taxpayers money has been left to rot at SAGLEMI because of politics. I can bet with my last pesewa that the SAGLEMI HOUSING PROJECT site will still be as it is today on 6 January 2025 when the term of this government would have ended. Mark it, nothing will happen there. No illiterate will start a building project and stop work at roofing level, abandon it, and go to start a new one when the old one he or she started has not been completed. Asenso Boakye, assuming you have no accommodation in your hometown or village. Now that you are a minister, will you agree to start a building project of your own in Kumasi, abandon it at roofing level and use the remaining funds to go and start another building project of your own in your village for people to say to have two houses of your own, meanwhile you can't stay in any of them because they have not been roofed? I know your answer will be a big NO. So why will do same to the good people of Ghana? Ghana , a very nice country blessed with all it needs on mother earth for its people to live meaningful lives. Unfortunately God has denied us a LEADER. Leadership is Ghana's bane. The one people have more hopes in, is the one who comes in and fail miserably and the circle continues.