We have agreed with residents on our projects -SHC

The State Housing Company (SHC) says the company reached an agreement with its residents before embarking on the Regeneration Project to provide more housing units. The company, therefore, denied media reports that it had left residents in the dark.

According to an official statement from the housing company, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed last Tuesday between SHC and the Resident Association of Kanda, Laterbiokoshie and Kaneshie (KALAKAN) together with some Members of Parliament and assemblymen before commencing the project.

Mrs. Grace Frimpong, Public Affairs and Communication Manager, who briefed newsmen on the regeneration project, said he was surprised by the publication that that some residents at Kaneshie were protesting against the project.

She explained that the signing of the MOU was the final process after continuous consultations between the residents, Member of Parliament and Assemblymen in the area about the Regeneration Project, since March 2010.

Mrs. Frimpong said during the interaction, the company opened up for feedback from residents Executives of the Resident Association were encouraged to regularly report to the tenants about agreements reached and report back to the company.

She said SHC also had further discussions with the executives of KALAKAN and went ahead to distribute questionnaires to the residents, after which the questionnaires were analysed to see the viability of the project in terms of concerns of residents.

Mrs. Frimmpong stated that the terms of the MOU clearly stated that residents of Kaneshie would not be affected during the project. Therefore there was no cause for alarm.

She indicated, however, that the company would take sole responsibility for relocating residents at Kanda and Laterbiokorshie who would be affected by the project.

The Public Affairs Manager further stressed that the SHC would make the necessary provision to ensure maximum satisfaction for its residents and any other person to be affected by the exercise.

Mr. Joe Lartey, President of the Resident Association of Kanda, Laterbiokoshie and Kaneshie (KALAKAN) and Dr. Mark Nii Akwei Ankrah, Managing Director, signed for the respective parties at the SHC premises last Tuesday.

The Regeneration project forms part of efforts by SHC to ensure urban re-generation and sustainable community development as well as providing affordable housing to meet social housing needs.