Accra, June 22, GNA- The country's Slum Upgrading Facility (SUF) Pilot Project office was on Friday opened in Accra to help coordinate the activities of the United Nations-Habitat action plan on slum upgrading. The office would also be responsible for the funding of the provision of payable housing finance for low-income communities and the provision of infrastructure.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Ellen Oteng Nsiah, SUF Country Project Coordinator, said the project was expected to replicate international intervention strategy into the citywide programme to the national level. She said the project would also seek to develop and implement an Area Development Plan by using finance from the city-level fund and private capital adding, "The project if undertaken in an exclusionary manner, will help ensure economic growth, decent communities and overall improvement in the quality of life".

Mrs Nsiah said Ghana was selected along Tanzania, Indonesia and Sri Lanka by the UN-Habitat to help upgrade existing slums, while preventing the upsurge of new ones through the provision of technical assistance. She said four cities Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tema would benefit from the project and hoped to support government's development policies that affect housing and infrastructure provision.

Mr Yahaya Yakubu, Acting Director of Housing, at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Hosing (MWRWH) said the slum population in the country was estimated at five million representing 20 percent of the total population, adding that it presents a challenge to the nation. He commended the UN-Habitat for the support and hoped the objective of the project would be realised.

Mr Boakye Boateng, Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) pledged his support to the project and hoped that the project would serve as catalyst for a fast, effective and successful programme.