Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea,
Government will soon be rolling out major programmes, as part of the Coastal Protection Project, geared at safeguarding the country’s beaches and their environs against encroachment by the sea. The programme is also aimed at arresting environmental deterioration as well as mitigating the negative social and economic consequences of beach erosion.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, when he addressed the media in Accra yesterday.
Stressing that the project is a priority, the Minister mentioned that the Akufo-Addo government has the onus of protecting the lives and properties of Ghanaian citizens.
He added that the project will also promote socio-economic activities for those living along the coastline.
“Over the past year, the Ministry has continued the implementation of a number of coastal protection works. These works have ranged from the construction of armour rock revetment with beach stabilisation and lateritic backfilling, to the construction of armour rock groynes and breakwater structures to protect lives and properties, while safeguarding the livelihood of the people living along the coast,” he told the media.
Various projects
According to the Minister, the 1.9-kilometre Adjoa Coastal protection works, near Takoradi in the Western Region, were completed last year, saying, already, the inhabitants of Adjoa are experiencing the positive impact of the project.
He added that the 4.3-kilometre Blekusu Coastal protection project, in the Volta Region, and the 4.0 kilometre New Takoradi Emergency Sea Defence Project (Phase II), at Elmina in the Central Region, have also been completed.
“Also, the 2.0-kilometre Dansoman Emergency Sea Defence Project, in the Greater Accra Region, has continued and is currently 85 per cent complete, while the 5.0 Kilometre Axim Coastal Protection Project, in the Western Region, is 73 per cent complete.
“Additionally, the 2.0-kilometer Amanful Kumah Coastal Protection Project is about 60 per cent complete, while the 5.0-kilometer Anomabu Coastal Protection Project is currently about 39 per cent complete,” he added.
Other projects which are at various stages and progressing steadily, according to Mr Atta Akyea, include the coastal protection projects at Dixcove, Cape Coast, Komenda and Elmina.
“Also, the contractors working on the Aboadze Phase II and Ningo-Prampram Coastal protection projects are currently mobilising to the site to commence actual construction works,” he added.
Affordable housing
On affordable housing, Mr Atta Akyea told journalists that the government has commenced processes toward securing funding for the completion of former President Kufuor’s 2006 affordable housing units in Koforidua, Tamale and Wa.
He said the various undertakings have been concluded among the Ministry of Works and Housing, Ministry of Finance and State Housing Company Limited (SHCL) on the completion of these housing projects.
“The Ministry has since transferred the three sites to SHCL for completion. We should have affordable dwelling homes within 12 months,” he said.
The Minister indicated that arrangements put in place by the government for the completion of the stalled affordable housing units have seen SSNIT completing 1,464 housing units at Borteyman and, most recently, 1,027 housing units at Asokore Mampong.
“Similarly, the TDC Development Company Limited has continued the construction of 312 housing units, out of the 1,584 units at Kpone-Tema. Currently, the 312 housing units are 90 per cent complete and plans are far advanced towards completing the remaining 1,272 housing units by TDC Development Company Limited.
“That notwithstanding, no arrangements were put in place for the completion of the 686 housing units at Koforidua, Tamale and Wa by the previous government,” Mr Atta Akyea said.
On the state of the Saglemi Housing Project, the Minister said that his outfit has engaged the services of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) to, among other things, take inventory of the stock of materials on site and the state of the project.
According to him, once the audit is completed, the Ministry will partner with the private sector to complete the 1,024 housing units on the ground.
