The Ministry of Works and Housing is optimistic that a Housing Authority will bring closure to all the challenges associated with housing in the country.

The Ministry also believes that with the help of the authority, there will be effective implementation of housing policies as well as a curb on the rate at which housing projects are abandoned after the government that initiated them leaves office.

Speaking on behalf of his outfit, deputy House and Works Minister, Abdulai Abanga, who lamented about the situation, said this trend (of stalled projects as a result of the change of government) should be a thing of the past.

“The conception, management, and planning of these projects were not handled by professionals but rather influenced by political considerations,” he said. “So we are hoping that when the Ghana Housing Authority is established, we will have highly qualified professionals to undertake affordable housing implementations.”

“The government led-housing projects which normally suffer in implementation, causing them to be stalled and abandoned when there is a change of government, should be a thing of the past,” Mr. Abanga said.

The comment follows the controversy surrounding the abandoned Saglemi Housing Project, which the government intends to sell to a private sector entity.

Government has clarified that the sale of the project (which was

to provide affordable housing to

Ghanaians upon completion) is the best option given the current circumstances.

However, this has been widely contested by many who believe the decision is not in the best interest of the country.

Addressing a gathering at the 2022 Ghana Property Awards, Mr Abdulai Abanga, said the authority will ensure that professionals undertake affordable housing projects in the country.

Meanwhile, the government maintains that the sale of the project is the best. Speaking on Saturday, November 26, 2022,the deputy finance minister, John Kumah, explained that “the Saglemi Housing project is no longer affordable per the arrangement that has happened to it because if you divide $200 million by 10,000, you are going to get it at $10,000, and they reviewed it to 1,500 (housing units) which makes it up (from) $40,000 to $50,000 per

unit. So how affordable can that be?”

“So in the present circumstances, the best option is to bring the private sector in,” he said.