Mahama’s low-cost housing policy the way to go — Bedzrah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah has lauded the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama for his foresight in addressing the housing challenge in the country.
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He explained that Mr Mahama’s low-cost housing policy focuses on tapping into the use of local materials and less expensive but efficient building technologies that were available in the country; drawing experience from countries such as South Africa, Benin and other countries that had used local materials in the construction of low-cost houses for the working class.
This comes at the back of the NDC flag bearer’s announcement of the policy proposal during his interaction with the executives of the National Tenants Association (NTA) in his office in Accra last Friday.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic last Wednesday, the MP, who doubles as a fellow of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors and a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, said the policy would address housing needs for the working class in the country.
“As a development consultant, it is important to emphasise that reducing the housing deficit in Ghana would require not only a well thought through strategy. There is the need for a bold policy backed by an actionable programme such as the current proposal from the NDC flag bearer to enable the next government to address the housing needs of the working class,” he said.
Hindrance to housing
Mr Bedzrah, who is a former Ranking Member of the Works and Housing Committee, lamented the current price hikes in building materials due to numerous taxes and the unwillingness on the part of the government to prioritise the housing sub-sector, making it difficult for Ghanaians to build their own homes.
“It is trite knowledge that currently, the price of building materials and other associated logistical and transportation costs in Ghana have skyrocketed as a result of high taxes, obnoxious tariffs and total lack of interest on the part of the government to prioritise the housing sub-sector.
“This lack of interest has resulted in an uncontrolled free-for-all all pricing regime that has made it practically impossible for the average worker to even contemplate putting up a decent place of abode,” he said.
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He noted that the low-cost building model, in addition to providing decent and truly affordable homes to workers, would ultimately provide jobs for the teeming youth who continued to flood the big cities for non-existing employment opportunities.
Mr Bedzrah said the policy proposal by the NDC flag bearer must be embraced as it was the surest approach that could help offset the looming danger in the housing sector.