President John Mahama has announced plans for the rollout of a new district housing programme, with construction expected to begin this year in selected districts.

He said the initiative forms part of a broader housing vision his administration intends to implement over the next four years to address Ghana’s housing needs.

President Mahama made the announcement on Thursday, August 20, during a tour of the Saglemi Housing Project, where ongoing work is aimed at completing the long-delayed housing development.

“The Finance Minister provided GH¢500 million in this year's budget, and so this year they'll start rolling out some of those district houses in selected districts,” he said.

President Mahama said the district housing scheme would mark the beginning of a new approach to expanding access to housing across the country.

He also gave an update on the Saglemi project, saying about 700 housing units are expected to be ready for commissioning by March next year, with the total number expected to reach 1,500 by December 2027.

He described the project as a vision originally initiated under the late President John Evans Atta Mills, which his administration later continued.

However, he said the project stalled after a change in government, citing legal issues and investigations as some of the factors that delayed its completion.

"Now the unfortunate thing that happened was, I mean, looters came in and stole everything: the cables, the washbasins, the baths, all the fittings, electricals, bulbs; they even took the telecom cables from underground and pulled them away and took them, and so it just left an empty shell, and eventually the government agreed that the private sector should partner to finish it, and LMI were chosen to do it."

President Mahama said the completed Saglemi estate is expected to provide a conducive residential environment when the works are finished.

He further described the development of district housing as an important part of the government's broader plans to tackle Ghana's housing deficit and improve access to decent accommodation across the country.