The Brick and Tile Manufacturers of Ghana has commended government for opting to use local bricks for the construction of its affordable housing units at Pokuase adding that it will reduce unemployment in the country.
President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday (1 August) cut sod for the commencement of the 8,000 housing units under the government’s affordable housing initiative dubbed: “My Home My Peace.”
The project, which is on 203 acres of land will come with provision for safe and eco-friendly spaces for children to play and grow, recreational facilities, such as football fields, tennis courts, swimming pools, as well as commercial spaces.
Phase two of the projected is expected to be rolled out in the Ashanti Region to help bridge the housing deficit in the country which currently stands about 2 million units.
Appearing on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (8 August) executive secretary of the Brick and Tiles Manufacturers Sam Ekuban Awoodzie said they are ready to meet the demands of the project.
“It saves the economy because you will not import any component, at the same time It opens up an opportunity for job creation in the value chain for people in the district.”
“Because all the brick factories are in the districts, and they create employment there and It also helps in reducing rural urban migration which is on the increase,” Awoodzie said.
Listen to Sam Ekuban Awoodzie in the attached audio clip below:
Revised national affordable housing programme
The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Works and Housing initiated a revised National Affordable Housing Programme dubbed: ‘My Home My Peace’, which adopts a programmatic approach to tackle the affordability gap and improve access to housing for Ghanaians.
In this revised version, Government will subsidize the housing units with land and infrastructure, which is to absorb a critical component of the construction cost. The private sector will complement these efforts by raising funds to build the apartments on a cost-recovery basis.
The initial project under this revised programme entails the construction of 8,000 housing units on a 203-acre land in Pokuase/Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region, and 6,000 housing units on a 200-acre land in Dedesua in the Ashanti Region.
Thorough feasibility studies, including assessments of environmental, social, property, and traffic impacts, as well as housing stress and financial analysis, have been conducted.
Drawing from past experience, this revised strategy acknowledges the financial constraints faced by many citizens and strives to make housing more accessible for all, ensuring the success of the programme.
By Fred Dzakpata
