GREDA Housing Exhibition 2007 opens

Dr Alexander Tweneboa, President of Ghana Real Estates Developers' Association (GREDA), has said the provision of shelter to every family, which should be the priority of every nation, has become a major issue in developing countries.

He attributed the causes to lack of access to bank loans and problems associated with land acquisition in developing countries.

Dr Tweneboa, who was speaking at the opening of a two-day GREDA Housing Exhibition at La Palm Royal Hotel in Accra, said housing was one the basic requirements and stressed the need for governments to show more commitment in that direction.

"GREDA is committed to assisting the Government in its efforts to deliver housing to the masses," he said.

He said, while the provision of affordable housing seemed to have eluded the people in the past, and many developers were accused of building for the higher income groups, "GREDA is seriously looking into the delivery of affordable housing and very soon will come out with its programme".

Dr Tweneboa, who is also the Managing Director of TRAFCOAF Estates Limited, said the exhibition was to educate, excite and harness the enthusiasm of the public for the houses that they build and urged the public to participate.

He announced that GREDA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Lands Commission and Land Valuation Board would prepare guidelines to define the role of the industry, including conditions for registration.

Dr Tweneboa said it was their hope that the establishment of clear guidelines for the Private Real Estate industry would reduce many of the disreputable practices by both members and non-members and also ease some of the bottlenecks that developers face in the delivery of housing.

He, commended members of the association, institutions and organizations that have helped GREDA perform during 2007.

Mr Abubarkar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, commended GREDA for playing an important role in the housing industry in the face of difficulties and frustration in that sector.

He said it was the vision of the government to deliver houses at affordable prices for the ordinary man to have shelter.

The Minister said to achieve that the government was making efforts to secure land banks in all the regional capitals to encourage developers to operate freely without any hindrances.

Mr Boniface pledged the Ministry support and preparedness to work with GREDA to achieve those objectives.

Arch. William N.T. Evans Anfom, President, Ghana Institute of Architects said GREDA had grown and made positive impact on the economy and commended them for their tireless efforts to deliver affordable houses to the people.

He said Architectural and Real Estate Development were explicitly linked and urged the two to come together and work for common goals.

Ms Elisabeth Mansa Banson, Managing Director of Tema Development Corporation (TDC), reassured GREDA of their readiness to assist in any capacity to make it achieve its target.