Housing Minister assures to complete Koforidua housing project

The Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has given an assurance that the abandoned Koforidua Affordable Housing Project in the Eastern Region will be completed.

That, he explained, was because it was being funded by taxpayers’ money.

The project was initiated in 2006 during the Kufuor Administration to provide affordable housing units for both low and middle-income workers.

The project, situated at Effiduase along the Koforidua-Akwadum Road, contains 342 housing units made up of 54-one bedroom apartments and 288 two-bedroom flats, all contained in 19 blocks.

The Minister who was at the project site last Tuesday, was accompanied by his deputy, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui; the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey and officials from the ministry as well as technocrats from the State Housing Company.

Resetting agenda

The minister said in line with the government's resetting agenda, abandoned projects initiated by previous administrations, particularly the NPP, would be continued.

That, he indicated, was because the government was thinking of all Ghanaians, not about any political party.

Mr Adjei stated that the assessment of the project would enable the government to know what to do next to complete it.

Different varieties

The Managing Director of the State Housing Company, John Bawa, said when his outfit took over the construction of the project from the ministry, it decided to add on different varieties to cater for single families and beyond.

He indicated that the rooms were bigger than similar ones in Accra because Koforidua had bigger spaces compared with those of the national capital.

Mr Bawa, who stated that 24 of the units were at various stages of completion, indicated that SHC was complementing government efforts.

Funding challenges

According to the Managing Director of SHC, the major challenge was with funding to complete the project.

"Our problem now is how to get money to complete the project.”

"In recent years, attempts have been made to restart construction, with some facing delays while others have seen new development designs.”

Later in an interview, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for New Juaben North, Samuel Adongo, was grateful to the government for deciding to complete the project.

That, he said, would provide decent accommodation for the people in the area.