Government is to begin a new housing project called the Revised National Housing Programme which will see the construction of 8,000 new housing units.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to do the ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday for the commencement of the project.
Works and Housing Minister Francis Asenso-Boakye at the 2nd Green Building and Research Conference in Accra said the National Housing Programme is a public – private partnership.
Ghana’s housing deficit is estimated at 2 million.
The New Patriotic Party government, under former President John Kufuor in 2006, initiated the Government of Ghana Affordable Housing Programme with the objective of providing accommodation for low- to middle-income workers of the country, creating jobs and improving incomes.
The project commenced in six locations: Borteyman – Accra, Kpone – Tema, Asokore Mampong – Kumasi, Koforidua, Tamale and Wa.
But the projects were stalled upon the assumption into office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The NDC under former President John Mahama also commenced the Saglemi Housing consisting of the first 1,500 flats but was also abandoned when the NPP took over power.
Mr Asenso-Boakye said the revised affordable housing programme will see to the completion of 8,000 housing units at Pokuase in the Ga West Municipality.
According to him, it will be different from all previous projects.
“This programme is quite different from all the affordable housing projects because we have taken the trouble to look at all the setbacks associated with the previous programmes.
“It will be a public-private partnership and government is giving free land and infrastructure so it will reduce the construction cost by 40%. The good news is that we are making sure that all the materials are environmentally sustainable and eco friendly.”
The Minister fell short of disclosing the total cost of the project.
The 2nd Annual Green Building Conference is under the theme: ‘Mobilising support for the Roll-out of the STI4SHS Roadmap and advance an African green Building and development agenda’.
Director of the Green Building Conference Prof. Emmanuel Bamfo Agyei said so far only 23 buildings in Ghana are green certified.
He, therefore, called for a policy drive to include eco friendly materials in all new public structures.
“We are trying to encourage those who are building now to use local materials because the sandcrate blocks and cement emit more CO2 and because of climate change it is affecting us so we can use more of bricks and coconut Fibre mesh so that withing the room it will be cooler.”
The three-day programme brought together academicians and politicians from several African countries including South Africa and Germany.