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The Minister of Works and Housing, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea has said Government is committed to partnering the private sector to build affordable housing to address the housing deficit.

Ghana’s housing deficit, he said hovered around 1.7 million and therefore requires holistic and innovative ways to address the shortfall.

He has subsequently, directed all Regional Coordinating Councils to as a matter of urgency collaborate with Chiefs to identify lands for Government to liaise with private developers to erect affordable housing to address the shortfall.

Atta Akyea said this during his interaction with the Central Regional Minister as part of a day’s working tour to the Elmina Emergency Sea Defence project site on Tuesday.

The Minister was accompanied by his two Deputies, Mrs Freda Prempeh and Mr Eugene Antwi together with the Directors of Works, Finance and Audit of the Ministry.

“Available housing data at the ministry shows a housing deficit of 1.7 million. We have to take quality steps to close that, the Region must make lands available to help us put up houses for the people,” the Minister said.

He also visited the dilapidated Cape Coast Ministries block which houses workers of the various ministries, departments and agencies in the Region to assess the place following concerns raised by the Regional Minister.

He expressed worry over the maintenance culture of the country and wondered why a building spanning 45 years had not seen any major renovations.

He further explained that government would take steps to renovate the building to make it conducive for the workers.