The Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has pledged to resume and complete the 342 unit affordable housing project in Koforidua once the necessary funds are secured.
The affordable housing project, which began in 2006 under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, has remained abandoned for 19 years.
The project, when completed, would comprise of a 345 units in 19 blocks, including 53 three bedroom apartments and 288 two bedroom apartments.
It was intended to help ease accommodation challenges in the region for workers.
The Works, Housing and Water Resources minister, together with some technical personnel from the State Housing toured the project site to assess its current condition.
The Ministry selected the State Housing Company Limited a couple of years ago to complete the project, but funding gaps hindered progress.
“It was officially handed over to us, I have been to the Wa and Tamale site too, but because the funding didn’t materialize for Koforidua we could not, but we do still have the capacity whenever the Ministry is ready,” John Bawah, Managing Director of State House Company, pointed out.
The sector Minister said efforts will be made to complete the project once financial support is secured. He, however, did not give a timeline.
“It is tax payers’ money that was used to start it, same Ghanaians money to start it, so whether it was started during our era or before our era, this is not the only region with this facility, other regions also have it,” he stated.
He explained further that “we are here to asses the facility, to see what government can do to come back on site to ensure the project is completed. The facility is located at a viable place with good road network. If we finish it, we can get more people to rent it, or even sell it. We would look for funding for the project.”
The New Juaben North Municipal Chief Executive, Samuel Adongo, on his part, highlighted the economic potential the project will bring to the municipality when completed.
“The Project when completed would expand the socio-economic potential of out district,” he said.
Affordable housing is about aligning affordability with accessibility – Media General GCOO
