Ghana’s Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has cut the sod at Afiaman near Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality to commence the construction of One hundred thousand, (100,000), affordable houses under the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS) and Sustainable Housing Solutions initiative.
Ghana including Kenya are the only African countries benefiting from this initiative.
Dr. Bawumia said this project when completed will compliment government’s efforts to bridge the huge housing deficit in the country which currently stands in excess of 2 million.
The United Nations Office of Project Services recently rolled out a 15 billion dollar project to construct affordable houses in some countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
Ghana and Kenya are the beneficiary countries from Africa while India will also benefit from the project in Asia.
This project when completed will not only help reduce Ghana’s housing deficit which currently stands at over two million but also create over 1000 jobs.
Ghana will receive over 5 billion dollars to construct about 100,000 affordable houses.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, Gret Feremo intimated that the construction of the affordable houses is a bold move that will deliver a better future for all.
A Representative of Sustainable Housing Solutions Dr. Allen Zimbler, intimated that the project will adopt state of the art technology that will be able to stand the test of time
The Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Barbara Asher Ayisi said the huge housing deficit in the country requires the swift intervention of government to bridge the gap.
She commended UNOPS for their support stressing government’s commitment to ensure that all are able to benefit from the project.
Vice President Bawumia was hopeful that country is making a headway in closing the huge housing deficit gap with the coming on stream of this project.
He used the occasion to appeal to the financial sector to help improve the mortgage market to help Ghanaians acquire affordable homes.
Ghana’s agreement was signed in September 2018 in New York, US, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly which was witnessed by President Akufo-Addo.
The new partnership will also explore new opportunities in the renewable market, with UNOPS expected to work with MYRA-SHS Energy, a subsidiary of SHS, which focuses on investments in renewable energy projects and associated infrastructure.
Story filed by GBC’s Mercy Darko
