General News of Saturday, 18 November 2017

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

Current government's policies unfavourable to construction industry - Estate Developer

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for KOANS Estates, Kofi Anokye, has taken a swipe at the government of Ghana for failing to highlight any initiative in the construction sector.

According to him, it was unfortunate that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta failed to address their sector during his presentation of the 2018 budget to parliament.

He said he was also unaware of any stakeholder in the construction and real estate sector being consulted before the budget statement was finally presented.

Mr. Anokye told Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio that, the policy direction of the current administration is unfavourable to the real estate sector.

"During the campaign by the NPP, we did not hear them touch heavily on real estate and housing," he added.

He was of the view that government is concentrating on human resource development but may have serious challenges.

He was emphatic that if government is aiming at reducing unemployment, then it must concentrate on the construction industry as the industry employs basically all classes of people including professors.

“The human aspect they are aiming to tackle is found in the construction sector and for them not to have mentioned anything of that sort, yet they are aiming to reduce unemployment, I think the two are not together. They don’t meet anywhere. I am surprised they didn’t mention anything of that sort,” he lamented.

He said once you mention unemployment, you cannot do away with the construction industry.