VICE PRESIDENT CUTS SOD FOR HOUSING UNITS FOR POLICE SERVICE
The Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has cut sod to commence the phase III of the Security Forces Housing Units for the Ghana Police Service at the National Police Training School at Tesano in Accra.
Addressing the gathering at the ceremony for the sod-cutting, Dr. Bawumiah revealed that the project comprises 320 housing units made up of 112 two-bedrooms and 208 three-bedrooms with a multi-purpose sports facility, a community center and a kindergarten.
He said it is important to house the security persons for emergency situations, saying, “all over the country, police personnel are not properly housed. Some live in rented accommodation scattered in towns and cities, which has the tendency to hamper emergency mobilization of forces, efficient coordination and command effectiveness”
According to the Vice President, government has reached agreement with Sino-hydro Corporation Limited, for the construction of houses and court structures for the Security Services including the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prison Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service and the Judicial Service.
Dr. Bawumia, revealed that the Sino-hydro project will construct about 10,000 houses which he described as the biggest housing project since independence.
He explained that the Sino-hydro project falls within the master facility agreement between the government, Sino-hydro Corporation Limited and the Chinese government in the infrastructure –for-bauxite barter arrangement.
On his part, Hon. Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea, said the provision of accommodation for the security services of Ghana is one of the major policies of the Ministry which is determined to accelerate the construction of housing units for other security personnel.
Hon. Atta Akyea added that the need for large investments in the housing sector is obvious especially in the face of the robust economic policies of the NPP Government.
Hon. Ambrose Dery, Minister for Interior, announced that the Police administration will this year recruit 4,000 new personnel to bridge the gap of 1:848 police to civilian ratio and indicated that the United Nation requires 1:500 police to civilian ration.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. David Asante-Apeatu, stated that the completion of the project would be a morale booster to those who will be accommodated and also serve as a source of hope for those who would have to make do with substandard structures.
He therefore commended the Government for its commitment to retool the service among other forms of support.