News:
December 11, 2013
Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North Justice Joe Appiah has cast doubt on government’s plan to build 5000 housing units next year to reduce the housing deficit.
Additionally, he is unconvinced the government will be able to provide potable water to some 68 percent of the population by the end of 2014.
Hon. Joe Appiah arrived at the conclusion due to the reduction in budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Allocation to the sector has been reduced by over 60 million Ghana Cedis this year.
The Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda in moving the motion for adoption of the report, the sector minister Collins Dauda noted that the ministry will execute its programme in spite of the financial challenges.
However Ranking Member on the Committee, Justice Joe Appiah still maintains his sceptical stance on the government’s intention.
He noted that out of 3000 boreholes, government has only sunk 536 adding that they definitely would be unable to achieve the set target by 2014. “Water and Housing is the basic necessity of life, water is life and life is water” he added.
Hon. Justice Joe Appiah stressed that so long as the budget is too small, government would not be able to complete the housing units, a situation he said is a sad commentary of government’s commitment to reducing the housing deficit and providing potable water to the masses.
Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh