Kpone Flats Still Lie Fallow As Squatters And Reptiles Take Over
Branching off to the right at the Kpone barrier on the barely one-kilometre stretch between the Tema Motorway Roundabout and Dawhenya, lay a neatly tarred road, also about a kilometre long, that leads directly to the Kpone Affiordable Housing project site, a beckoning reality to reduce the housing deficit in the country.
On the flanks of that road are high tension poles completely wired, along with an electricity substation to provide power to the various flats.
There hundreds of uncompleted flats continue to lie fallow, more than three years after their construction came to a standstill.
This situation has persisted in spite of last year’s Presidential directive to the Ministry of Water Reosources, Works and Housing to ensure the early completion of the flats for immediate occupation by the large number of public workers.
The multi-million Ghana cedi project, started with funds from reliefs that acrrued from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, formed part of efforts by the government to reduce the huge housing deficit that has plagued the country.
STATE OF THE PROJECT
A visit by the Graphic Business revealed that some of the structures were still at the various stages of completion they were left in some three years ago.
Blocks that have been roofed are now providing shelter for some of the workers of the construction companies at the site.
Some people from the Kpone township are having a field day as they occupy parts of the flats as their permanent abode.
Investigations further revealed that the ‘early birds’ to occupy the flats have turned themselves into landlords and are taking some undisclosed amounts as rent from new comers before they are allowed into the flats.
The construction of the project provided jobs for hundreds of people who would otherwise be walking without any productive activity.
Their current status is unknown with the delay in the resumption of work on the project.
According to one occupant, he once worked for one of the construction firms on site but since the project came to a standstill, he had settled down hoping for the commencement of the project.
“We have pitched camp here so that when the contractors are given money to continue the work, we would be the first to be engaged,” he said with a pale voice.
He also revealed that other people apart from the construction workers had identified the place as their new home.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Hosuing, Mr Abraham Otabil, confirmed to the Graphic Business that the project was at various stages of completion.
Although the news team could confirm inaction on the structures since the project last came to a halt, the PRO said there had been some work on the project but “they have been done in piecemeal”.
He said the President late last year directed the ministry to find the funds to complete the project but indicated that the ministry was in talks with the Finance and Economic Planning Ministry to see how funds could be released for the completion of the project.
Mr Otabil said the ministry was presently reviweing proposals from some private sector players who have shown interest in the project.
He said the ministry was also in constant talks with the Finance Ministry to access funds to complete the project.
Mr Otabil described the project as huge and financially engaging, but noted the ministry was adhering to the President's directive and expressed the hope that they would successfully complete the project.
THE HOUSING DEFICIT
The latest study on housing in 2011, estimates the housing deficit in the country to be more than 1.5 million housing units, and growing as a result of the lack of clear direction by the state to reverse the trend.
The situation has given landlords a field day as they charge exorbitant amounts as rent and long periods of rent advance.
The situation is also being worsened by real estate developers who have cashed in on the situation not only to charge exhorbitant prices, but quote their rates in the US dollar for properties they build under the guise of “affordable housing”.
Last year, it became evident that the government’s quest to provide additional 200,000 housing units for the security services and public workers in the country would not materialise.
This followed a boardroom wrangling between the partners, STX Construction and Engineering Limited of Korea and their Ghanaian counterparts.
NATIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMME
Laying the 2012 Budget Statement and Government’s Economic Policy before Parliament late last year, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, said; “Government will ensure that the objectives of the National Housing Policy are achieved to support the private sector to increase housing delivery in the country and to improve mortgage affordability”.
He maintained that the ministry will continue to facilitate the following private sector companies to commence the construction and delivery of safe, decent and low income “affordable housing units “STX – 30,000; Agu Resources Housing - 10,000; Sethi Green Housing – 5,000; Ital Construction Housing 12,000 and VN’s and Sethi Reality Housing – 5,000.