SHC Director Bemoans Nature of Housing System In The Nation

Managing Director of the State Housing Corporation under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr. Mark Ankrah has bemoaned the nature of the housing system in the nation, calling for a much more improved ways to address the housing needs of the citizenry. Dr. Mark Ankrah, speaking on Radio Gold on Tuesday, expressed worry over the housing policy in the nation. According to him, housing should be seen as a panacea to the problems that the Ghanaian populace encounter when seeking accommodation. He was of the view that a proper housing system in the nation will enhance human development and ensure that the housing needs of the citizens are addressed. Alluding to the regime of Ghana�s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, he touted his social housing policy which to him was to address the �housing needs and provide housing to the areas where they are needed. In fact, one of his key industrial strategies and manufacturing is to make sure that wherever he goes, the housing infrastructure is in place so that people will have a place to lay their heads in and also to be able to operate at their most effective level.� He also spoke about some interventions that the State Housing Corporation together with government has been making to address the housing issue in Ghana. He revealed that the Ghana�s housing system has over the years run into a deficit in excess of about 1.7 million housing units, a reason why there should be a proper structure in place to revamp the housing system. He was also hopeful the Kaneshie housing project will recommence very soon as the Corporation anticipate to build over 500 units to complement the already 144 units of housing established at the locality. Touching on the way forward to resolve the housing problems in the nation, Dr. Mark Ankrah advised the population to intensify talks on issues relating to rent and housing, in order to come out with lasting solutions. �Our inbuilt environment is an indictment on our understanding of housing and we have to recognize that and move forward...We need to talk to each other. We need to create the platform and listen to each other. And as I said, these are issues that should not divide us as a people.�