President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo inaugurated 312 new accommodation units for the Ghana Police Service in Kwabenya, near Accra. This modern facility is the first phase of a 514-unit housing project at the Kwabenya barracks. The project aims to make way for the redevelopment of the 80 acres of land surrounding the Kotoka International Airport into a modern commercial hub. This is part of the government’s ambitious urban renewal programme, which seeks to redevelop prime areas in major cities across the country.
The new facility is part of a land swap agreement between the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, Lands Commission, Ministry of the Interior, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, and Unique Development Company, a private developer. The facility is for the relocation of the Airport Police barracks.
During the inauguration ceremony, President Akufo-Addo stated that the facility is “a further testimony of our unwavering commitment to provide decent accommodation and other facilities for our security personnel.” He also mentioned that the government will continue to prioritize the provision of decent accommodation and other facilities for security personnel to improve their welfare and enhance their capacity to serve the nation effectively.
The President noted that the government has made tremendous strides since 2017 in addressing the country’s housing deficit, which currently stands at two million units. He indicated that despite these gains, rapid urbanization continues to put immense pressure on land resources, which has led to the degradation of some prime lands, particularly in urban areas.
According to President Akufo-Addo, building a modern and prosperous Ghana requires continuous investment in infrastructural development, the provision of essential services, and the improvement of the living conditions of the people, even during the current global economic crisis. He emphasized that it is of utmost importance to prioritize the optimal use of the country’s land resources.
The President urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Lands Commission, and the Unique Development Company to work earnestly towards the completion of the remaining 192 housing units and other facilities that make up the second phase of the project. He also commended those who worked on the project.
“This obviously is a great step towards the redevelopment of the Jubilee City enclave, to give a facelift to our capital city.”
Dr George Akufo Dampare, the Inspector-General of Police, received the housing units and thanked the President for the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of the service. He assured the President that the facility would be “maintained and well-preserved for generations to come.”
The Kwabenya barracks project is fitted with modern facilities and will provide comfortable homes and a conducive working environment for police officers and their families. In addition to the residential accommodations, the project also provides a school with modern facilities, a clinic, an astroturf football field, a tennis court, a standby generator, a police station, a fuel-filling station, a workshop enclave, and other essential amenities.
The World Bank estimates that Ghana’s urban population will reach 72 percent by 2035. This presents a unique challenge, as well as an opportunity, to develop innovative solutions to the growing demand for housing, infrastructure, and public services in major cities in the country. This is why the Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission, has embarked on an ambitious urban renewal program aimed at redeveloping prime areas in major cities across the country, including the Kumasi Sector 18, Marine Drive Tourism Development Project, Takoradi Beach Road Redevelopment Scheme, among others.
