Address housing needs of the people- Mahama

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA- Mr John Dramani Mahama, NDC Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi on Friday called on government to address high rent advances demanded by landlords.

He said housing for the people should be a fundamental right and for landlords to be demanding advance for three to four or even more years pushed people to create slums in the country. Mr Mahama said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Friday on aspects that the President John Agyekum Kufuor did not address but were rather vital for the well being of Ghanaians. He described as rather strange that there was no mention of the subject in the address.

"Housing in the country is a big issue, especially in urban areas and even rural areas too and is it not out of place that the President did not find it worthy to address," Mr Mahama asked.

He said most people were forced to put up unauthorized structures that led to slums when it became almost impossible to have descent accommodation wherever they found themselves.

Mr Mahama said landlords have had a field day for too long, "and it is about time we did something swiftly to bring relief to the people we have committed ourselves to serve."

He mentioned mining as another important part of developments that took place last year that should have received some highlighting and a way forward on them.

"Last year we saw the merger of Ashanti and Anglogold, the arrival of Newmont Gold Ghana Limited and other significant developments in the industry. However, nothing was heard on this all-important sector. Mining is Ghana's second highest foreign exchange earner after cocoa.