The government has pledged to continue the Saglemi housing project – Minister of Public Works and Housing

The Minister of Public Works and Housing, Francis Assenso Boakye, reiterated the government’s desire to complete the project of more than 1,500 housing units in Saglemi to remedy the country’s housing deficits.

The $ 200 million project located in Saglemi, near Tsopoli, Ningo-Prampram district, Greater Accra region, was expected to deliver a total of 1,502 housing units in its first phase to fill housing gaps in the country.

Informing the media after visiting the project site on Wednesday, the sector minister said the government remained determined to continue with the project despite the many challenges that had besieged it.

“The project, I believe, was a great idea, but the conception, design and implementation did not go well and that’s why we end up here but, like I said, I commits to putting the past behind us and discussing a new way of carrying out the project.

“That’s more than 1,000 housing units. Currently we are saying that the housing deficit is over two million, so if we are able to complete these more than 1,000 housing units, it is a big step forward in tackling the housing deficit and that is why I am committed to remedying it, ”said Mr Boakye.

The tour was supposed to allow the minister to familiarize himself and also to obtain first-hand information on the projects underway within the ministry.

To date, a total of 1,389 dwellings have been completed, of which 868 are ready for use, the remaining 386 at various levels of completion.

The sector minister, however, explained that the completed units were not yet ready for use due to the lack of the necessary infrastructure and services, including; electricity, water and sewers.

The 2,172 acres on which the Saglemi housing project is located were acquired in 2002 during the time of President John Agyekum Kufuor.

On August 15, 2012, the late President, John Evans Atta Mills, gave executive approval to the then Department of Water Resources, Works and Housing to implement the project, which involved the construction of 5,000 homes for sale to members of the public through a mortgage loan provided. by Ghana Home Loans.

The project was implemented by Constrastora OAS Ghana Limited with a buyer credit of up to $ 200 million.

The first phase of 1,502 units was to be delivered by March 31, 2016, but was extended until August 31.

The minister therefore assured that the government would seek innovative ways to raise funds to finance the rest of the project to ensure its completion.

Other sites the minister visited were the Kpone Affordable Housing Project in Kpone Katamanso Municipality, where 1,500 housing units are expected to be built, the National Housing Mortgage Fund Project and Kaizer Apartments in the community 4 of Tema.

Regarding the National Housing Mortgage Fund project, TDC Company Limited Chief Operating Officer Samuel Asante said the first phase of the 208-unit project has been completed and ready for use, adding that the second phase which involved the construction of 187 units would start soon.

Mr Asante, however, noted that construction of the 1,500 Kpone affordable housing project has progressed as planned due to financial difficulties.

“We’re about 20 percent of completion, obviously because of funding cuts and also capacity issues in terms of subcontractors, but now that we have the right partner, we will go at a rapid pace.” , did he declare.

At the Kaizer Flats of Tema Community Four, Mr. Edward Mensah Sanjok, the chief engineer of TDC, said that five of the 13 dilapidated structures had been demolished and the other eight were to be destroyed in the coming days to allow the start of the reconstruction work.

Mr Boakye said the government will continue to involve residents to see how it can best help them relocate to pave the way for the start of the project.

The Minister was accompanied by the Chief Minister of the Ministry, Dr. Theresa Tuffour.