This year's fiscal budget allocated an amount of 325.54 billion cedis to the Ministry of Works and Housing for the continuation and commencement of new projects and programmes in the country.

Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, who announced this when he presented the 2001 budget to Parliament on Friday, mentioned specifically major on-going projects like the Keta Sea Defence, the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project, and other critical coastal protection works at Nkontompo, Ada, La, and the Osu Castle.

The rehabilitation works of water supply systems at Kpone, Weija, Barekese, Tamale, Winneba, Koforidua, and Cape Coast would also be continued accordingly.

The Minister said in order to sustain the provision and maintenance of rural water and sanitation, 660 new boreholes, 350 new hand-dug wells, 40 mechanised community pipe systems, 30 new gravity pipe systems, 1,300 new household latrines and 100 institutional latrines would be constructed this year.

He said the Ministry would also embark on a special housing package dubbed "Housing the People Scheme" that would be focused on low-income housing, Urban renewal and Rural Housing.

Under the scheme, he said, a home ownership mortgage insurance will be established. Facilitation role with its emphasis on acquisition and provision of basic infrastructural facilities would also be set up.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo announced that a loan package of 50 million US dollars that is expected to create 30,000 jobs is being sourced for members of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association to increase the housing for both rental and home ownership.

Another 50 million dollars loan is being sourced for land servicing development and construction of rental and home ownership housing, he added.

The Minister said an innovative house approach to the security agencies has been conceived by the Ministry and would form part of the overall housing programme.