Flood relief cost government over 3 million Ghana cedis

Accra, July 20, GNA - Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, said the government had made available more than three million Ghana cedis for emergency flood relief activities for 2010.

He said activities undertaken with the GH¢3,420,000.00 approved money included de-silting, excavation and widening of channels, lining and construction of specific channels, construction of 17 culverts at critical locations and construction of foot bridges.

Mr Bagbin said the aim of these projects was to improve channels and other waterways to convey flood waters out of flood-prone communities.

He said this would reduce flooding in the flood-prone areas in the country and that the project was in progress in towns and cities and was nearing completion.

On the water situation at Gomoa Nyanyano, Mr Bagbin said a 150 mm water mains extension to Gomoa Nyanyano had been completed as part of the Kwanyaku Interconnection Project.

Mr Bagbin said the Kwanyaku Water Supply system was capable of serving Kasoa, Awutu Berekum and Nyanyano areas.

He stated that Denys BV which constructed the Kwanyaku new treatment Plant was undertaking this phase of the project.

Mr Bagbin said the contractor was testing the pipelines and Gomoa Nyanyano would enjoy potable water supply by the end of July.

Asked to enumerate government efforts in providing accommodation for Ghanaians, the Minister said the ministry started the National Housing Programme in 1994 with the objectives of providing houses for low income earners of the country.

The project halted between 2000 and 2004 and was revived in 2006 and was poised to provide 100,000 housing units in five years.

Mr Bagbin said till date, over 5,000 housing units were at various stages of construction at six sites namely Borteyman=96Nugnua, Kpone near Tema in the Greater Accra Region, Asokore-Mampong in the Ashanti Region, Koforidua, Tamale and Wa.

Mr Bagbin said a number of investors had expressed interest to participate in the government's National Housing Programme to provide 145,802 low-income affordable housing units of various types.

He said companies that would build houses in Ghana include Messrs STX Engineering Ghana Limited to provide 200,000 houses.

Messrs Agu Resources Limited in partnership with African Asian Financial and Properties Holding Company LLC of the US would provide 10,000 housing units at Nsakina near Amansama.

Messrs Goodwill International Group of Companies would provide 14,360 affordable houses to be constructed in all the regions while Messrs Italconstruct Limited will deliver 11,332 housing units.

Messrs Swiftforms Systems Limited would provide 20,000 housing units in the 10 regional capitals and the State Housing Corporation had proposed to construct 110 housing units nation wide.