Alhaji Collins Dauda (right) interacting with some squatters at the Kpone affordable housing projects. Insert: A section of the housing units.
The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda has inspected government?s affordable housing projects in the Tema metropolis during a day?s working visit to the area.
During the tour, the minister first inspected the Government Affordable Housing project at Kpone, where TDC is currently working on some housing units.
He interacted with some squatters occupying some of the houses which were initiated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, led by ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor some years ago.
He stressed the need for them to vacate those housing units as government, through some of its institutions, intends to start working on them.
The squatters pleaded with the minister to extend the one-month period to enable them vacate the place.
According to them, the period was too short for them to arrange for accommodation and appealed to him to extend it to two months.
Just before he left the site, the minister cautioned them to do every thing possible to vacate the site by the end of the period, warning that they will be forcefully ejected if they stay in the area.
Alhaji Dauda and entourage, including Joe Abbey, Managing Director of Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and some management members, later inspected TDC?s serviced plot at Community 24 near Adjei Kojo.
Early in the TDC Main Hall, Alhaji Dauda explained to the management of the Corporation and staff that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by President John Mahama was committed to providing decent affordable housing units to Ghanaians.
He said currently the country?s housing deficit stands at about 1.8 million and quickly added that the government was dedicated to reviewing the Legislative Instrument (L.I), which set up the Corporation to expand its mandate to do business in some parts of Ghana.
He remarked that his ministry had contracted the TDC to work on 24 housing units at Kpone.
He pointed out that the Corporation was crucial in the housing sector of the country and appealed to both management and staff of TDC to give off their best.
The Minister assured them of the President?s determination to deliver on his campaign promises. According to him, the Mahama administration is dedicated to addressing the housing deficit.
For his part, Joe Abbey expressed happiness over the Minister?s visit and assured him of TDC?s readiness to quickly start work on the projects.
Mr. Abbey said his outfit would join forces with the government to achieve its targets.
Before his arrival in Tema, Alhaji Dauda inspected the Sakumono housing project, which is meant for the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), to assess the level of work.
The project, which is estimated at about $14.9 million and being constructed by an Israeli construction firm, Amandi Ghana Company Limited, was started by former President John Evans Atta Mills.
The Minister expressed joy at the level of work done so far.
The project, when completed, is expected to consist of 168 housing units.
72 out of 168 have been completed and are ready for use, with the rest expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2014.
He ended his tour with a visit to Borteyman housing project where he inspected houses which were given to the military and others.
From Razak Mardorgyz Abubakar, Tema
