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A housing scheme to ensure that workers of the Ghana Revenue Authority acquire their own residential accommodation before retirement is to kick off in July, 2014. The project, supported by the ACEC Investment Company, Capital Shelter plus, United Pension Trust and Vanguard Assurance, is expected to be built on lands acquired through the Public Sector Workers Union of the GRA for its members. Beneficiaries would pay for their houses, which could be built within six to one year on hire purchase basis for a maximum of 10 years. The PSWU of GRA has facilitated the acquisition of about 2,200 plots of land for its members in some parts of the Greater Accra Region and the Central region. According to the leaders of the PSWU, members who did not own plots in the land banks but had commenced their own building projects and needed support to complete them could also benefit. High productivity The Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr George Blankson, before launching the project, noted that the project would help achieve high productivity among the workers since they would have their peace of mind. He said the fact that 800 workers had subscribed to the project was a sign that the workers were enthused about it. The GRA has a total workforce of 6,800. The Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, advised the developers of the project to deliver on time. He commended the management of the GRA for supporting the project which would improve the welfare of their workers. Reducing housing deficit A tax policy adviser at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Larbi Siaw, reading a speech on behalf of the minister, noted that the initiative would reduce the housing deficit in the country. He urged the workers of GRA to work hard and mobilise more revenue to enable them to pay for the houses. He said the initiative was worth replicating by other unions in other organisations.