SA Affordable Housing March - April 2019 // Issue: 75 | Page 8

NEWS
Massive housing
deal for Ghana
The Government of Ghana has announced the signing of a huge deal
with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for the
construction of about 100 000 affordable homes across Ghana.
The 100 000 houses are to be constructed locally, which will provide up to 3 000 jobs for local people.
W
ith the gross development value of the completed
project – estimated to be in the region of
USD5.3-billion (about R73-billion) – UNOPS and its
partners are looking to attract USD436-million for the
provision of the homes.
UNOPS executive director, Grete Faremo, says that the project
is a great opportunity to supply sustainable and resilient housing
for the people of Ghana, while also boosting the local economy
and improving the livelihoods of the Ghanaian people.
“The knock-on effect means unlocking new opportunities
and resources for local communities, which helps drive
progress toward the SDGs,” he says, explaining that, “The
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MARCH - APRIL 2019
100 000 houses are to be constructed using energy-efficient
solar rooftops and manufactured locally, which will provide
up to 3 000 jobs for local people.”
President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo stresses the
importance of the project for Ghana, and says, “I believe we
are all well aware of the challenges Ghana, and most of
Africa, faces when it comes to the provision of decent,
well-planned and organised housing for our citizens. The
difficulty in addressing this on-going challenge has led to a
huge housing deficit in our country … with the signing of this
project agreement, we shall usher into existence a new dawn
for Ghana and our citizens.”
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