Government condemns NPP’s “cruel and unconscionable” housing record

Accra, Nov. 2, GNA – The government on Friday dismissed the New Patriotic Party’s claims as a credible alternative in the area of affordable housing saying the opposition party had “a cruel and unconscionable record” in the sector.   A statement issued in Accra by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the attempt by the NPP “to whitewash its sordid reputation in housing would not be allowed to stand”.   Following is the full text of the statement:   “Government has observed with amusement attempts by the New Patriotic Party to position itself as a credible alternative in the area of affordable housing and housing for other vulnerable groups.   “We have also taken notice of the vilification and name calling of President John Dramani Mahama by Mr. Boakye Agyarko at a press conference on this subject area yesterday. “Indeed, the observation is true that it is those who live in glass houses who love to throw stones.  We are absolutely amazed that the NPP will gather courage to pontificate on housing, more so housing for the vulnerable.   “This latest attempt by the NPP to whitewash its sordid reputation in housing would not be allowed to stand.  The truth will be told and the good people of this country would be constantly reminded of the NPP’s cruel and unconscionable record in housing and how the NPP systematically contributed to the current massive housing deficit the country is grappling with as it went down in Ghana’s history as the only party that ruled for 8 years without completing a single affordable housing flat and yet completed many land and bungalow grabs for itself.   “First of all, it is important to remind Ghanaians that the latest addition to the many freebies being promised by the desperate NPP Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo in this year’s election in terms of free housing for Kayayei’s is not exactly strange.  In the NPP’s 2000 manifesto, the NPP promised on page 20 that ‘slums shall be replaced with apartment houses with modern conveniences, which will be cost-effective and environmentally friendly.’  After eight years of NPP rule, not only were the slums left unattended, more slums emerged as one of the terrible legacies of the eight year period of the NPP in which Nana Addo at all material times was a prominent cabinet Minister.   “We will not allow the NPP to run away from their true and incontrovertible record in housing.  That record is still fresh in the minds of Ghanaians. It is how the NPP focused attention on housing themselves rather than housing the ordinary people of Ghana.  In eight years, did the NPP not see the kayayeis?  What about the other vulnerable groups?  Did Nana Addo, Mr. Agyarko and the NPP just arrive in Ghana to see the vulnerable for the first time?   “Rather than fulfill their own manifesto promise in 2000 of ‘converting slums to apartment houses with modern conveniences’, they spent all the 8 years grabbing state bungalows and prime lands for themselves.   For instance, it has now become engrained in Ghana’s history that but for Ghanaians voting for the NDC in 2008, the new Foreign Ministry at the Airport Residential Area situated on the International Students Hostel Land would not have been there.  That beautiful edifice which will serve all governments, all generations and the State of Ghana would not have been constructed.  Rather, that prime land in such a choice location would have been hosting the private mansions of the following people who paid paltry sums to claim ownership of that land which had hitherto belonged to the people of Ghana: 1.    Freddie  Worsemau Blay Former Deputy Speaker of Parliament 2.    Akua Kuenyehia Dean of the Faculty of Law, Legon; NPP supporter nominated by Kufuor to the  International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. 3.    Akwasi Osei Adjei NPP Minister for Foreign Affairs (2007-2009) 4.    K. T. Hammond NPP MP for Adansi Asokwa 5.    Ben Owusu Mensah Formerly  Director-General of the GPHA 6.    Osei Kuffuor   7.    Frank Mpare Secretary to Cabinet under NPP 8.    K. K. Sarpong NPP Ex- MD of TOR 9. Esther Obeng Dapaah NPP MP for Abrem 10. Ambassador Kobina Wood NPP Functionary 11. Irene Addo NPP MP 12. Oboshie Sai Coffie Former Minister of Tourism 13. Dr. Abu Sakara Forster CPP Vice-Presidential Candidate (2008) 14. Hajia Alima Mahama NPP Former Minister for Women and Children “As many Ghanaians are aware, Airport Residential Area was just a tip of the iceberg.  Cantonments, Switchback Road and Ridge Residential Area in the Greater Accra Region were the other spoils of NPP bigwigs and those with intimate connections to them.  I intend however to also exhibit evidence of what transpired in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region: ITEM   ALLOTEES PLOTS NO.   LOCATION   ACREAGE   FEES PAID (GH¢ ) YEAR OF ALLOCATION 1 Barima Kwaku Duwa 4 Residency Link ridge Res Area   Premium 1,000.00 2004 2 Asiedu Poku/Micheal Adubofour & Louisa Aduboufour 020 Circular Road Ridge Res Area 0.31 Premium 800.00 2004 3 John Agyekum Kuffour 8 Residency Link Ridge Res Area 1.42 Premium 4,000.00 2004 4 Nana Kwabena Oduro & Adwoa Birago 026 Circular Road Ridge Res 0.39 Premium - 2004 5 Sampson Kweku Boafo 4 Acacia Close Ridge Res Area 0.42 Premium 1,000.00 2004 6 Prof. Yaw Boafo 2 Acacia Close Ridge Res Area 0.46 Premium 1,000.00 2004 7 Alhaji Haji Ibrahim BAryeh 022 Circular Road Ridge Res Road 0.38 Premium 1,000.00 2004 8 Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani 1 Acacia Close Ridge Res Area 0.33 Premium 1,000.00 2004 9 Charles Osei 07 New Lands Ave. Ridge Res Area 0.46 Premium 5,000.00 2004 10 K. Owusu- Poku 013 Circular Road Ridge Res Area 0.35 Premium 1,000.00 2004 11 Urban Roads - Danyame - - - 2004 12 Cecelia Appaigyei 1 Militia Ave Ridge Res Area 0.28 Premium 1,000.00 2004 13 Baffour Owusu Asare Amankwatia V/Kwaku 2 Militia Ave Ridge Res Area 0.28 Premium 1,000.00 2004 14 Anthony  Gambrah 5 Militia Ave Ridge Res Area 0.31 Premium 1,000.00 2006 15 Cecilia Dapaah 7 Militia Ave Ridge Res Area 0.28 Premium 1,000.00 2006 16 Akwesi Biahene 9 Militia Ave Ridge Res Area 0.29 Premium 1,000.00 2006    ... Read Full Story