President inaugurates 320 housing units for police
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated 320 housing units for the police service at Tesano, Accra.
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The project, which is the third phase under the Security Service Housing Project Phase III, includes 112 two-bedroom Type A and 208 three-bedroom Type B apartments, an officer's mess, a social centre, two multi-purpose playing courts, and a kindergarten.
Already, the ministry has successfully delivered 536 housing units under Phases 1 and 2 of the programme.
Phases
Phase one, which entailed the construction of 168 housing units for the then Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) in Tema, commenced in July 2012 and was completed in August 2014.
Phase 2 involved the construction of 368 housing units for the Ghana Navy at Tema New Town (Bankuman Cemetery Road) and was completed in 2018. Both phases are currently being occupied.
Project
Inaugurating the project after a tour yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said it marked the realisation of a promise, a vision that had been in the making for some time now.
He explained that the Security Services Housing Project, which the government embarked upon in 2018 during his first term of office, “was aimed at providing decent housing for our gallant men and women in uniform.”
"These 320 housing units symbolise our resolve to ensure that those who risk their lives daily to protect us have a safe and comfortable place to call home," he added.
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He said the importance of adequate housing for security personnel was self-evident.
"When our police officers have access to decent accommodation, it enhances their morale and improves considerably their effectiveness in maintaining law and order. “It is a well-known fact that a well-housed police force is a more motivated and productive one," President Akufo-Addo said.
He noted that the provision of the new housing units was a step towards creating an environment that allowed the police officers to focus more on their critical duties rather than worry about their living conditions.
Commitment
He gave an assurance that the government was committed to addressing the housing deficit within the security services, adding that “we recognise the challenges faced by our police officers and their families, and we are determined to provide solutions that will alleviate these difficulties.”
He indicated that “the project was a reflection of our broader agenda to ensure that every Ghanaian, regardless of their profession or rank, has access to decent and affordable housing.”
Indeed, in 2018, the government embarked on the Housing for the Security Services programme with the goal of increasing the housing stock for the security services. This initiative, President Akufo-Addo said, was aimed at providing the police service the necessary support to perform their duties effectively.
“Since the inception of this programme, the Ministry of Works and Housing, through its Housing Directory, has worked diligently to enhance the living conditions of our security services, exemplifying government's strong attachment, particularly to the police service.
President Akufo-Addo said: “The houses are not just buildings; they are a token of our appreciation for the sacrifices the security men and women make every day.”
He reminded Ghanaians that the accommodation was part of ongoing efforts to improve the living conditions of the security personnel and that “we will continue to work tirelessly to address the housing needs of all our security services and ensure that they are well equipped to save our nation.”
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo-Dampare, commended the President for what he had done for the police, which included over 4,000 motorbikes, vehicles and other logistical support spread across the length and breadth of this country.
“Mr President, that is historic, and it is one of your legacies that we will be forever grateful for,” he said.
This, he said, had led to the reduction of crime, adding that “the dynamics of crime in this country has become one of the most peaceful countries in the world.”
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“Mr President, through your initiative and leadership, we've been able to establish 181 regional police units, made up of an average of 35 police officers with vehicles and motorbikes dotted in a network fashion across the country,” he added.
He also mentioned the establishment of Police Emergency Medical Intervention Fund which was facilitated by the President.