The Ministry of Works and Housing has convened in Koforidua for a crucial two-day retreat aimed at fostering collaboration and providing updates on ongoing programs and projects ,and prioritizing key deliverables within the next ten months.
The gathering provided an opportunity for various agencies and departments within the ministry to apprise the new Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, of their initiatives and progress.
Participants included key figures, including the Deputy Minister designated for the ministry, Prince Hamid Armah; the Chief Director, Stephen Yaw Osei, heads of departments and heads of the 12 agencies under the ministry.
Speaking to the media, Manasseh Atta Boahene, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Works and Housing, explained the significance of the retreat in creating synergy among agencies and departments to ensure the efficient delivery of government projects nationwide.
He said President Akufo Addo has issued clear directives to the new Minister of Works and Housing Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on key priorities, including the prioritization of rural housing projects, especially in areas where Agenda 111 hospitals are located.
“The president of the Republic gave the Minister for Works and Housing clear matching orders which includes but not limited to prioritizing the rural housing projects to ensure that specifically where agenda 111 hospitals are sited will have some of these housing units,” said Boahene.
“The Saglemi Housing Project emerged as another focal point,” Boahene noted, indicating the Minister’s commitment to ensuring its successful completion and value for money.
“The new minister has begun reviewing some of the contracts and even the issues relate to the Saglemi project, and I am sure in the coming weeks, the Minister will pay a working visit to inspect the site and also to meet the key contractors on the project. So very soon he will engage Ghanaians on the way forward and the very essence is to ensure we have value for money.”
Furthermore, Boahene mentioned the Minister’s proactive stance on addressing drainage system challenges to mitigate the impact of the upcoming rainy season and its resultant perennial flooding.
He highlighted the President’s directive to pay attention to various drainage systems across the country and initiate works as necessary.
“The President has asked the minister to pay key attention to the various drainage systems in the country to ensure we are able to begin works on several drainage systems as we await the rainy season,” Boahene emphasized.
He said that the Minister has also shown commitment to completing various sea defense projects to mitigate the impact of tidal waves.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah’s recent reshuffle from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Works and Housing taken over from Francis Asenso Boakye is to facilitate the government’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs in the country.
The spokesperson of the Ministry is hopeful the retreat has reenergized various actors to ensure vision of the President is achieved .
Source:Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
