72 government affordable housing flats near completion

Construction works have reached advanced stages at the Borteyman affordable housing project site here in the Greater Accra region.

These construction works mark the first phase of activities to complete the government affordable housing project following complaints that it had been abandoned for political expediency.

Joy News' Fred Smith visited the Borteyman site and reports that some of the units could be completed within weeks.

The affordable housing project was initiated by the Kufuor administration in the dying months of his administration.

The housing project at Borteyman and Kpone, in the Greater Accra region, Asokore Mampong, in the Ashanti region, as well as Tamale in the Northern region were to provide thousands of affordable one and two bedroom houses for public sector workers.

The idea was one of many attempts by government to deal with the country's housing deficits, however, it was abandoned in 2009 when the Mills-led administration took power leaving the structures at the mercy of squatters and in some cases criminals.

The government has come under constant pressure to revive the projects following the collapse of major housing deals including the STX housing deal.

Joy News' Fred Smith who was at the Borteyman site, said five blocks containing 72 flats were nearing completion.

Ben Tugbenu, Project Director for E-Safe Homes, contractors for the project told Joy News the five blocks will be completed in a few weeks.

Erastus Asare Donkor of Luv FM who visited the Asokore Mampong project reports some of the buildings have been completed with only a few finishing touches. However, other buildings are yet to proceed beyond the lintel level.

According to him, not much has been heard from Minister of Interior, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, who during a visit to the site months ago, promised the buildings would soon be completed and handed over to security personnel.

There has also not been clear communication of a timeline for the completion of the Asokore Mampong project, Erastus stated.

However, the Police have flushed out criminals who were living in the uncompleted buildings even though there are squatters still occupying some of the buildings.