Gov’t urged to place greater premium on infrastructural development

By Francis COFIE

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer-PAMV Real Estate, Philip Attiapa Mensah, has urged present and future governments to prioritise and sustain efforts toward infrastructural development as a prerequisite for ensuring business prosperity and industrial stability in the country.

He emphasised that good roads, electricity, water and proper land management regimes should be given foremost attention as these factors are core to the success of all business operations.

In an interview with media on the sidelines of Ghana Cooperative Summit and Awards, Mr. Mensah stated that any departure from these developmental efforts will create challenges for businesses and industry.

Explaining the challenges his operations have faced since inception, he mentioned the high exchange rate which has resulted in increased costs for building materials such as cement and iron-rods. However, he noted that issues with water and electricity, which were initial challenges, have been largely resolved.

Mr. Mensah highlighted that infrastructure, particularly road infrastructure, is heavily dependent on government action. Addressing this issue would significantly boost the real estate industry by making all locations easily accessible.

He added that electricity remains an indispensable resource for business stability, and all governments must adopt sustainable and strategic measures to avoid the unproductive situations businesses have faced in the past.

He commended government for taking aggressive measures to mitigate the impact of recent power outages, which have negatively affected the business industry. However, he stressed the need for a lasting solution to prevent future occurrences.

According to Mr. Mensah, good road infrastructure connects people, fuels business growth, reduces business costs and makes the transportation of goods easier.

Although road projects are capital-intensive and range from medium- to long-term, he believes they are worth the investment due to their long-term benefits.

Furthermore, he urged all governments to prioritise making healthcare accessible to all citizens in line with global development goals. He suggested that the healthcare sector should be decentralised to cover ordinary citizens, as sound health is key to a productive nation.

Mr. Mensah, who was adjudged Best Real Estate Developer at the awards ceremony, also warned that the  real estate industry’s future may not be sustainable if players focus only on expatriates.

“We have to find a way to cater for the average Ghanaian, because everybody would like to own a house sooner or later,” he said.

He further lauded government for the low tax regime on the industry during the first five years of operation due to the capital intensive nature of the business.

PAMV Real Estate, he said, will continue prioritising the usage of quality materials in its operations to ensure its prospective customers get value for money, adding that cutting corners in construction is not advisable since it is a case of shooting oneself in the foot.

Mr.Mensah said his outfit continues to receive recommendations from existing clients due to its customer-centred mission and high quality products.

PAMV Avenue has 24 townhouses, with each townhouse having a rooftop swimming pool built with materials of high quality to forestall the incidence of leakages.

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