The fate of the sprawling, long-abandoned Koforidua Affordable Housing Project, a symbol of stalled public infrastructure for nearly two decades, is set to change.
Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, the Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, concluded a high-level site visit last Tuesday, pledging to utilize the government’s “resetting agenda” to complete the project.
The ambitious housing scheme, situated at Effiduase along the Koforidua-Akwadum Road, was initially conceived in 2006 under the Kufuor Administration. Intended to provide affordable units for low and middle-income workers, the project has languished, resulting in a 19-year delay that has seen significant deterioration of the structures.
Commitment Based on Public Funds
The Minister, accompanied by his deputy, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, and officials from the State Housing Company (SHC), stressed that the decision to resume work transcends political boundaries.
Mr. Adjei gave a firm assurance that the project, comprising 19 blocks containing a total of 342 housing units, will be completed. He justified the restart based on the source of the initial investment:
“That, he explained, was because it was being funded by taxpayers’ money.”
He framed the completion as a non-partisan commitment:
“The Minister said in line with the government’s resetting agenda, abandoned projects initiated by previous administrations, particularly the NPP, would be continued.” “That, he indicated, was because the government was thinking of all Ghanaians, not about any political party.”
The assessment conducted during the visit, he added, would be crucial:
“Mr. Adjei stated that the assessment of the project would enable the government to know what to do next to complete it.”
The original design of the project is massive, targeting hundreds of families:
- Total Units: 342
- Unit Breakdown: The complex includes 54 one-bedroom apartments and 288 two-bedroom flats.
- Structural Composition: The units are distributed across 19 large blocks.
Currently, only a small fraction of the development is operational or near completion. The Managing Director of the State Housing Company, John Bawa, confirmed that just 24 of the units are currently at various stages of completion, representing a completion rate of roughly 7% after 19 years.
Mr. Bawa highlighted the strategic decision to adapt the unit specifications since the SHC took over from the ministry, noting that they decided “to add on different varieties to cater for single families and beyond.” He also observed a design advantage over similar projects in the national capital:
“He indicated that the rooms were bigger than similar ones in Accra because Koforidua had bigger spaces compared with those of the national capital.”
Despite these efforts, Mr. Bawa confirmed the overriding issue preventing immediate full-scale revival: funding.
“Our problem now is how to get money to complete the project.” “In recent years, attempts have been made to restart construction, with some facing delays while others have seen new development designs.”
He reiterated the SHC’s readiness to contribute, stating the company “was complementing government efforts.”
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for New Juaben North, Samuel Adongo, later expressed profound gratitude to the government for the commitment, noting that the completed units “would provide decent accommodation for the people in the area.”
Securing the necessary millions in funding remains the final hurdle before the 342 units can be handed over to expectant families.