The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga West, Hon Clement Wilkinson has successfully woo some development partners from Canada and China who are willing to build One Million houses across Ghana to support the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS).
These development partners from Canada and China according to Hon Wilkilson, need a guarantee from the Government of Ghana linked to the Gold for Oil policy where they will exchange the One Million Houses they will be constructing in Ghana for gold.
The ‘Gold for Houses Project’ according to the MCE, will augment government’s housing units available for the successful implementation of its novel rental support programme the (National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), to provide low interest loans for eligible low-income earners.
He explained that, the agreement which would go into the ‘Gold for Houses’ project will be built on a guarantee of a concession from the government to these development partners which will be utilised for their common interest.
“The development partners are ready to present their proposal to government and if this goes through successfully, I believe it will end the rental challenges in the country,” he said.
The NRA scheme is expected to reduce the burden of vulnerable groups having to cough out huge amounts of money as advance rent payment.
It will be implemented in partnership with the private sector.
The rent advance loans which will be secured under the NRAS will be paid directly into the bank accounts of landlords’ registered with the Scheme as Government plans on spending GH¢30million to implement the Scheme.
Hon Clement Wilkinson had also indicated that his development partners from Canada and China will build the one million houses in all regional capitals across the country and he hopes that government will consider the proposal and ensure that its becomes workable.
Rental challenge in GhanaSuccessive governments have instituted several housing policies that were geared toward increasing access to various housing options across the country.
But these efforts are mainly concentrated on home ownership services and have not achieved the desired impact of addressing market imbalances in the rental housing market.
Rental housing forms an integral part of a well-functioning housing market and plays a critical role in increasing access to affordable housing options, particularly for the youth and low-to-middle-income groups.
Providing meaningful shelter for citizens’ forms part of government’s developmental goals. According to the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the launch of the National Rent Assistance Scheme, measures have been taken to address problems associated with the housing sector, especially the rental housing sector, which has remained vital to the Akufo-Addo government’s development agenda.
Source: Emmanuel Bekoe ll Original FM
