Business News of Sunday, 1 June 2008

Source: GNA

Housing project for Aluworks staff

Afienya, May 31, GNA -- Mr Michael Adjorweh-Nortey, Dangme West District Chief Executive on Saturday called on Estate Developers to conserve land by putting up high rise buildings in order to have land for future developments.

He noted that currently there was high demand for land and the attempt to develop them all was likely to affect future development. Mr Adjorweh-Nortey made the call when cutting the sod for a housing project on 90 plots acquired by Aluworks Staff Co-operative Credit Union (ASCCU) at Kofikope near Afienya in Dangme West District of Greater Accra Region.

"Unfortunately, housing in developing nations such as ours continue to be of insufficient quality and does not meet the demands of most of the people because most of the houses in the cities are expensive, overcrowded and sometimes functionally obsolete," he said. Mr Adjorweh-Nortey said the problem of providing adequate housing for all has long been a concern for government and therefore lauded the initiative of the employees who thought of providing themselves with accommodation.

While commending efforts of Aluworks staff, Mr Adjorweh-Nortey called on establishments to come out with such schemes for their workers to supplement government's efforts at providing accommodation for the people.

Mr Vandyke Baah-Achampong, Chairman of ASCCU said a three-bed room and hall is estimated at 23,000 dollars whilst a two bed room with similar components was estimated at 20,000 dollars. He said another 150 plots of land had been acquired at Dawhenya in the district for the same purpose. Mr Baah-Achampong said the decision to undertake the project was taken about 10 years ago when they started monthly contributions towards it and management of Ghana Home Loans Limited provided financial assistance to be paid within 15 years. Mr Francis Ato Kondua, Consultant to Ministry of Private Sector Reform urged estate developers to come out with simple and quality technology to reduce cost to make it affordable. He encouraged employees to place priority on the re-payment of their housing loans to avoid embarrassment. Mr Van Ketaramana, Managing Director of Aluworks said management was ready to support the staff to enjoy their retirement and advised them to plant trees in the serene atmosphere around the project.