Kagyase (Ash), Feb 26, GNA - A nine unit estate house constructed at the cost of over 2.9 billion cedis at Kagyase in the Atwima district to accommodate senior police officers in the Ashanti region has been handed over to the Police Administration. Work on the houses, which consists of three bedrooms each were funded by the government commenced last year. Work on a guesthouse for the Service is proceeding.

Speaking at a ceremony to hand-over the completed housing units to the Police Command at Kagyase on Friday, Nana Owusu-Nsiah, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), said the housing scheme was government's genuine demonstration of efforts at curbing the accommodation problem facing the Police Service. He said apart from the nine estate houses for the senior officers, the SHC had equally been contracted to put up eight-unit of two bedroom houses for Chief Inspectors and Inspectors in Kumasi. The IGP made it clear that the police housing scheme was not limited to Ashanti region alone since similar estate houses were already being put up in Accra, Tamale, Takoradi, Koforidua, Cape Coast, Sunyani and Ho.

Nana Owusu-Nsiah commended the SHC for quality work and working within schedule but cautioned police officers that would be occupying the buildings to maintain them and keep the environs tidy and clean or face sanctions including ejection.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of Interior, suggested that maintenance of accommodation allotted police officers should be considered a key factor in promotion of such officers and enjoyment of other benefits. "Definitely, cleanliness within and around the place one lives should be considered an aspect of discipline and thus awarded accordingly", he added. Papa Owusu-Ankomah appealed to developers in the country to consider accommodation for the police as critical components of estates that they build. "While it may be difficult to make such houses available to the police on a gratis basis, I believe special arrangements could be made with the police for some rebates to be offered", the Interior Minister stressed.

In an address read for him, the Managing Director of SHC, Mr Kwaku Sarpong-Mensah disclosed that for the first time in the history of the company, "We paid a dividend of 400 million cedis to the government". Mr Sarpong-Mensah attributed the achievements to the resolve of the Police Service through the instrumentality of the IGP to provide them with contracts for execution of housing projects. He commended the IGP for placing his trust in a state organisation like the SHC to construct houses for police officers. Among the dignitaries present at the ceremony were Mr S.K. Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister and Oheneba Adusei-Poku, Akyempimhene.