Accra, May 11, GNA- The State Housing Company Limited is Committed to completing all ongoing projects inherited, some of which had stalled or slowed down for longer than seven years.
“ This is in line with your (President’s) direction and also our commitment to ensuring State funds are not locked into abandoned projects”.
Mr John S. Bawa, Managing Director of State Housing Company Limited announced this during a sod-cutting project to commence the green city housing project at Dedesua in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Bawa said 300 housing units were scheduled for completion before the end of this year across the country in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.
That, he added could scale-up the delivery of housing units by the company to help government reduce the over 1.8 million housing deficit the country faces and secondly, to explore innovation, technology, and collaboration with the private sector to reduce both the cost of construction of the housing units and also the financial costs to home ownership.
He said the company had initiated urban redevelopment projects in Kaneshie Estates, Adenta Estates, and soon, Effiakuma Estates in Takoradi and Kanda Estates in Accra.
“ These projects are a critical part of government’s vision of repurposing ageing government estates in urban centres to provide increased housing for our ever-growing cities.
Mr Bawa said under the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, they were actively participating in the Greenville District Housing project, under which they were constructing a total of 40 housing units with infrastructure in the Tamale South Constituency of the Northern Region.
“Under the direction of our Minister, Hon. Ken Adjei, we are in the final stages of preparations towards executing the completion of the abandoned government affordable housing projects, starting in Koforidua, and in the near future, Wa and Tamale.
He said they were currently executing works on seven regional Head office buildings for the Ghana Immigration Service in Tamale, Damongo, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Tema, Sunyani and Kumasi, Residential apartment buildings in Tamale and Takoradi for the Ghana Immigration Service, and finalizing the execution of housing developments in partnership with the National Homeownership Fund.
“Your Excellency, on this point, I wish to declare, that today’s State Housing Company is poised and ready to truly live up to our motto of being the Nations’ No. 1 Builder, and hope that Government will give us a slice of the major housing projects recently announced”.
The MD said through the dedicated support of the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, they had repackaged, reengineered and re-designed the SHC portion of the Pokuase Housing Project which was stalled under the previous administration.
“This project will deliver 1,544 apartments in 3 phases over a 60-month period. We are currently finalizing negotiations with a financing contractor so the project can commence”.
To address the financial limitations on the demand side of our operations, he said one of the first things they did upon assumption of office was to introduce a Mortgage Services Function.
“This has led to significant partnerships with two major financial institutions; Republic Bank and Ecobank, both of whom are represented here today. Under these mutually beneficial MOUs, we are able to facilitate favorable mortgage financing conditions for Ghanaians buying homes from us. Thanks to the significant gains in the economy under your leadership, Your Excellency, interest rates continue to drop, and the Ghana Cedi remains stable and predictable. This is directly resulting in more Ghanaians being able to enter into the property market through mortgage financing”.
He said they had secured the renewal of head leases for 5 of our most critical estates in the country; Teshie Nungua Estates, Achimota Estates, North Labone, East Cantonments, and Kaneshie Estates.
“Allow me to repeat here, that the only other time in the history of the company when a headlease was successfully renewed was during an NDC administration under the distinguished leadership of the late Dr. Samuel Sarpong. May his gentle soul continue to rest in peace. In honor of his dedicated service to the company, we named our newly launched 24-hour premium and express service centre after him. We are currently working closely with the sector minister and the Lands Commission, to regularize the documentation for all other company lands around the country to ensure that we can continue to provide unencumbered ownership to our clients”.
Mr Bawa said the company was expanding operations to the newly created regions, starting with the Savannah Region in Quarter 3 this year and acknowledged the support of Yagbonwurah, Jirah, Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale1 and the Minister for the Savannah Region for their support towards this opening.
“All of the above and more we have done whilst simultaneously preparing for this moment; breaking ground on the Green City Project, Dedesua”.
The Green City, so-named to be in harmony with the lush vegetation of the Ashanti region and its aptly nick-named capital, the Garden City, spans an area of 200 acres and will comprise of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom detached houses, 2 bedroom semi-detached houses, and 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments.
All of this will be complimented by recreational facilities, commercial spaces and open spaces for events. A total of 1,067 residential units are expected to be delivered over a 5-year period.
Phase 1 of the project will deliver 214 units of 2 and 3 bed detached homes, and is expected to be completed by Q4 of 2027.
“It is not a promise. It is not a concept. It is not a rendering on a presentation slide that will gather dust in a boardroom. The Green City, Dedesua is a plan that is ready to become reality. Over one thousand housing units not as a headline figure, but as a target with a financing framework, a construction timeline, and a partnership structure behind it”.
He thanked PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama for accepting the invitation and …” I ask, humbly, that you consider making a small donation from the Big Push to cover the costs of the horizontal infrastructure for this project, that is, the roads, drainage and sewage facilities at an estimated cost of GHc100,000,000. This will go a long way to support us in maintaining our price positioning of being 25-40% cheaper than the market.
“To His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Chiefs and people of Dedesua and Asanteman, you have welcomed this project into your community with grace and generosity, we are grateful for the confidence. In return, we pledge to be the kind of developer you will be proud to work with. One that consults, communicates, and considers the people who already call this land home.
“To the Honourable Minister and Deputy Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Chief Director, Director Housing and the whole team, we appreciate your guidance, support and leadership as we work towards realizing the Reset Agenda. A reset, that ensures State Owned Entities are delivering value to the Government and People of Ghana.
“To our Partners and Private Sector Collaborators here today, your confidence in this project is not something we take lightly. You have placed your resources alongside ours in pursuit of a shared vision, and that is a profound act of faith in Ghana and in this institution. We will honour that faith with transparency, professionalism, and results.
“To my visionary Board, led by Mr. Ralph Roland, your direction and oversight brought shape to this ambition.
“To my loyal and dedicated Deputy Managing Director, Lawyer Atukwei Quaye, the Senior Management Team and the hardworking staff of the State Housing Company Limited, today is yours”
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba