President applauds progress of Saglemi Housing Project

President John Dramani Mahama, has applauded the progress of work on the Saglemi Housing Project, located at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region.

The President visited the project site as part of his “Accounting to the People Tour”, in and around the capital.

The 300-acre 1,502-housing unit facility, which comprises one to three bedroom apartments and town houses, is 80 per cent complete and earmarked to be occupied by residents in the near future, to reduce the national housing deficit.

President Mahama said: “This estate is very important, as it forms part of many other such developments the government is undertaking towards resolving the accommodation problems in the country.”’

The President congratulated OAS for its successful partnership with the government, to achieve this goal.

On his part, Andrew Clocanas, Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Ltd, the Brazilian construction firm undertaking the project, said the 1,502 housing units represent the first phase, with the opportunity for expansion of up to 11,000 housing units in the Saglemi community.

“This is a milestone in the housing industry in Ghana. Nothing of this magnitude has ever been achieved,” he said.

“We are building a complete city, which will have industrial and recreational facilities, schools, shopping malls and other social amenities as well as security. The government played its role in securing over 1200 acres of land, at a very low rate. In return, up to 40 per cent of the houses will be sold at subsidised rates for low income earners to afford.”

Mr Clocanas also pointed out that approximately 80 per cent of all the inputs and raw materials were procured and fabricated in Ghana, creating more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs for Ghanaians.

“The socio economic impact of this project on Ghanaians will be huge,” he said.

In November 2013, President Mahama cut the sod for the first phase of the Saglemi Housing Project, in what was described as the most ambitious housing project in the West Africa sub-region.

Source: GNA