Sombo(UW), July 18, GNA - Mr Hackmam Owusu-Agyemang, Out-going Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing on Monday cut the sod for work to begin on 1,000 affordable housing units for workers in Wa Municipality at Sombo near Wa in Upper West Region.

The project being financed through HIPC funds is estimated at GH=A2 25 million (250 billion cedis) and the first phase would cost GH=A2 4.5 million (45 billion cedis).

Mr Owusu-Agyemang said GH=A2 30 million (300 billion cedis) had so far been spent on 4,000 flats, which had been completed and ready for occupation under the project for workers in the southern part of the country.

He noted that housing deficit in the country, was about 500,000 units and no country could developed without adequate houses for its workers.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang warned that no container shops or kiosks would be allowed in the project area of the structures, comprising flats of four and two storey-buildings that would be fenced to house schools, shops, markets, recreation and health facilities.

He said Government was determined to respond to the needs of the citizenry, hence the numerous projects being undertaken and continued to execute in all sectors of the economy and all parts of the country without discrimination "demonstrating that it is a caring government." "I want to assure you that Government is working at the totality of its programmes and there is absolutely no discrimination in the delivery of projects."

"The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) is not operating in this region because its disbursement is guided by rules and regulations but other resources, which other regions are not benefiting are being utilised in the region, "he added.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang urged contractors on the project to work diligently while the workers avoid pilfering of the building materials. Mr Ambrose Dery, Out-going Upper West Regional Minster, said housing problem in Wa Municipality had been compounded by the high demand for residential accommodation by students of Wa Campus of University for Development Studies because of non-existence of hostel facilities for them.

He said landlords had taken advantage of the situation and ejecting tenants who were mainly workers for the students and this had resulted in exorbitant rents in the municipality.

Mr Dery said Government could not shoulder the housing problem alone and called for partnership from private estate developers, financial institutions local government structures, chiefs and landlords to realize the objective of the project.