DELEGATION FROM SHELTER AFRIQUE CALL ON PRESIDENT MILLS AND MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC PLANNING

President John Evans Atta Mills has said that Government remained committed to reducing the housing deficit and providing affordable housing to the people saying ‘Government will partner organizations, who would respect Ghana’s provisions on housing to provide roofs over the heads of the people.’

President Mills said this when a delegation from Shelter Afrique, a Nairobi based Pan African organization led by its Managing Director, Mr. Alassane BA, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle to brief him on the outcome of an annual general meeting in which Ghana participated last year in Kenya.

Ghana has 8.4 per cent shareholdings in this organization and the it plans to invest $100 million in its initial plan for housing development in Ghana.

The President reassured Ghanaians that it was partnering Shelter Afrique, to improve upon housing delivery, and reduce the current housing stock deficit, which stands at about 1.5 million. He said Government would continue to support private institutions and individuals to develop the housing industry.

Mr. BA lauded Ghana for its lead role in the Pan Africanist cause, and said Shelter Afrique owed it a duty to help Ghana implement its housing policy.

He said the institution was committed to housing financing, and was interested in providing affordable and social housing.

Present at the meeting was the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed and other officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

END