The Minister of Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea, has commended the management of State Housing Company (SHC) for its sustained efforts at providing houses for accommodation seekers.

He also urged management not to allow litigations to stall projects of the company.

He was of the view that when the company was consistently embroiled in litigation over its projects, it would not only delay the housing roll-out program but would also affect the country’s development.

The Minister made the observation when he paid a working visit to the Head Office of SHC to familiarise himself with ongoing projects of the company.

He disclosed that the SHC was sued for $2.5 million and that was challenging the company’s quest to complete the Adentan Little London housing project.

The Minister and his entourage, after meeting management and staff, proceeded to North Kaneshie and Adenta to inspect on-going projects of the SHC as well as get first-hand information on the progress and challenges of the company.

According to the Minister, the four-year court injunction on the Adentan Little London housing project could hinder the progress of the housing projects.

During the inspection of the 65 apartments, he said the Ministry was ready to work with SHC lawyers to address the court case.

On affordability, he said the projects were intended to serve both low and middle-income earners who were unable to purchase houses upfront. He assured that the government was committed to creating a credible mortgage system which would enable workers to afford houses within 20 to 30 years.

Mr Atta Kyea hinted that the Ministry was arranging with the Ministry of Finance to create the mortgage policy using the pension fund.

Mr Kwabena Ampofo Appiah, Managing Director (MD) of State Housing Company said costing of the two, three and four-bedroom bungalows under construction would be done upon completion, explaining that, it would depend on how much would be invested into the full construction.

In the past, he said, nearly 100 per cent of the housing projects were outsourced to contractors, however, the Company had been retooled, especially with construction equipment and others, to enable it to construct the houses on its own.

Mr Appiah explained that the Company was able to do this with its internally generated funds obtained from selling its existing homes, non-lease renewal, and rental of properties.

The Company, he said, assessed that it could manage the projects better, instead of giving it to third parties.

“So far, it has been profitable and we have been able to make some collections, and the result of the collections is the beautiful edifices you see around North Kaneshie and Adenta,” he said.

Other projects the Company is undertaking are the “John Agyekum Kufuor” estate, which is expected to contain about 120 houses in Kumasi, as well as other similar ones in Cape Coast, Sunyani and Tamale.

The MD said the decision on whether the houses would be given out only for sale or also for rentals would be determined upon completion.

He indicated that the 32 apartment at North Kaneshie Industrial Area, was expected to be completed in April 2020.

The Minister was accompanied by a Deputy Minister of the Ministry Hon Barbara Ayisi, Chief Director and other directors of the Ministry.