The Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has commissioned 26 housing units for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at Apatrapa, in the Atwima Nwabiagya North district of the Ashanti region.
The SHC is building 100 housing units and has so far competed seventy of them. Out of the 70 that has been completed, the GIS has purchased 26 of them
Addressing a gathering before commissioning the project, Oppong Nkrumah indicated that the SHC and GIS collaboration formed part of government’s quest to improve accommodation within the security sector and beyond.
In view of the above, he disclosed that government had embarked on interventions aimed at improving accommodation of security agencies.
“The government of Ghana, under Akufo Addo, has also got a government developing a programme which is specifically accommodation for security agencies and other public servants,” he said.
He named Kwabenya,Tesano- all suburbs in Accra – as some of the areas where similar houses would be built.
On Ghana’s housing deficit, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah disclosed that 1.8 million Ghanaians have no decent accommodation.
“Today in Ghana, we need 1.8 million homes or housing units for the average household of four. What this means is that 1.8 million times four of our people do not have dignified housing.”
The repercussions, according to him, are that “land lords and real estate agents take our people for granted”.
On the basis of this, Oppong Nkrumah said President Akufo Addo had instructed his ministry to develop incentives free work that attracts the private sector to come in as master developer and develop the new settlements in the cities with 5,000 homes.
“Today, at the Works and Housing ministry, we are in the process of consulting with stakeholders to complete this incentive package and bring it before cabinet and parliament for approval and use that to stimulate the quick development of housing units to reduce our 1.8-housing deficit in Ghana in the next ten years”, he said.
Decentralising the housing project, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah revealed that government was about to start district housing programme.
“Additionally, we are about to start a district housing programme, which will ensure that across the 261 districts, in our country and using local building materials so that the final products are very affordable.
“We are able to deliver more houses, particularly to public servants who are posted to rural areas to serve the republic of Ghana, but also to make same available for persons who are working elsewhere, hailing from these places and would want to purchase a house instead of struggling to build one as well.”
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for State Housing Cooperation Ltd. (SHC), Nana Kwabena Appiah, indicated that 26 units of residential accommodation is being given to the GIS.
According to him, the project, it was the third of such project that had been handed over to the GIS and mentioned other places as Sunyani,SewfiWioso and Kumasi.
Nana Kwabena Appiah noted that the project is also the eighth mass estate being constructed by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and Dr.Bawumia administration.
The project, he continued, is aimed at developing over one hundred housing units of two, three and four bedrooms’ homes, adding that it is the testament of the hard work of the staff and the board of SHC.
The Comptroller-General of Ghana Immigration Service, Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi, noted that GIS had had a harmonious relationship with SHC, which had led to Apatrapa housing project.
“I must say the service has a good working relationship with the state housing company, under the able leadership of Mr. Kwabena Ampofo Appiah from the year 2017 and this collaborative effort was part of the measures instituted by the service with the blessing of the government.”
Whilst he called on government to improve the state of GIS regional offices, Asuah Takyi revealed that since 2017 to date, the GIS had seen significant developments under this government.
“Between 2017 to the first quarter of 2024, the current management has witnessed phenomenal infrastructure development. Mention could be made of the centre of excellence at South Odorkor in the Greater Accra region, which is for post entry levels of training of officers”.
The GIS boss also revealed the establishment of Mid-country training school at Tepa, establishment of tactical training school at Kyebi.
Acquisition of 26 housing-units of two and three bedroom houses at John Agyekum Kufour Estate at Apatrapa,“which we are witnessing today”
The Chairman of the occasion, Nana Agyekum Kusi Ababio, the Chief of Oyoko, expressed appreciation to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo for the realisation of the project.
Kusi Ababio hailed Nana Kwabena Appiah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for State Housing Cooperation Ltd. (SHC), for turning the SHC to become a befitting entity.
He expressed the optimism that with service men coming to live in the area, it will ward off miscreants from the neighbourhood.
KON later inspected the Bantama,Bohyen drainage systems before he paid a courtesy call on Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
He went to Dedesua to inspect parcel of lands His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has gifted to the SHC to build residential accommodation.
