Akufo-Addo Commissions312-Unit Housing Edifice For Police
President Nana Akufo-Addo yesterday, April 19, 2023 commissioned a 312-unit housing edifice for personnel of the Ghana Police Service based in the Greater Accra Region.
The ultra-modern facility is the first phase of a 514-unit housing project at the Kwabenya barracks in the national capital.
The project comprises oneand two-bedroom self-contained flats fitted with modern facilities. As designed, the facility will provide comfortable homes, and a conducive working environment for police officers and their families.
In addition to the residential accommodations, the project also provides a school with modern facilities, a clinic, an astroturf football field, a tennis court, a standby generator, a police station, a fuel-filling station, a workshop enclave and other essential amenities.
It is in line with the government’s plan to build modern barracks for the security services to accommodate their increasing numbers.
The commissioning of the project, which is receiving several applauds, The Anchor gathered, will now give way for the redevelopment of the 80 acres of land around the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) into a modern commercial hub.
It will come under government’s urban renewal programme, aimed at redeveloping prime areas in major cities across the country.
The project, which is for the relocation of the Airport Police barracks, is a land swap agreement between the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, Lands Commission, Ministry for the Interior, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and Unique Development Company, a private developer.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Akufo-Addo said that the facility is a testament of his administration’s commitment to provide decent accommodations and other facilities for security personnel.
He was convinced that “Not only will this facility improve the welfare of our police officers, it will also enhance their capacity to serve our nation even more effectively.”
He assured government would continue to prioritize the provision of decent accommodation and other facilities for security personnel to improve their welfare and enhance their capacity to serve the nation even better.
“Not only will this facility improve the welfare of our police officers, but it will also enhance their capacity to serve our nation more effectively,” he said.
The President noted that the government has made tremendous strides since the beginning of his administration in 2017 in addressing the country’s housing deficit, which currently stands at two million units.
He indicated that, despite those gains, rapid urbanization continued to put immense pressure on land resources, which has led to the degradation of some prime lands, particularly in the urban areas.
President Akufo-Addo said that building a modern and prosperous country required continuous investment in infrastructural development, the provision of essential services, and the improvement of the living conditions of the people, even during the current global economic crisis.
“It is, therefore, of utmost importance that we prioritize the optimal use of our land resources,” he stressed.
He emphasized that the World Bank’s estimation that Ghana’s urban population would reach 72 per cent by 2035 presented a unique challenge, as well as an opportunity, to develop innovative solutions to the growing demand for housing, infrastructure and public services in major cities in the country.
He explained the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission, embarked on an ambitious urban renewal programme aimed at redeveloping prime areas in major cities across the country, including the Kumasi Sector 18, Marine Drive Tourism Development Project and Takoradi Beach Road Redevelopment Scheme, among others.
The President urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Lands Commission and the Unique Development Company to work towards the completion of the remaining 192 housing units and other facilities that make up the second phase of the project.
The President commended the executioners of the edifice, saying “This, obviously, is a great step towards the redevelopment of the Jubilee City enclave, to give a facelift to our capital city.”
“Let me assure you of my unwavering commitment to the realization of this project towards the Ghana we aspire for. I am confident that, with God’s guidance and your support, we will achieve our vision of a prosperous and inclusive Ghana,” he said.
Also present at the event was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Dome Kwabenya constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo, and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor. Others were the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey and Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, among others.
Source: Anchorghana.com
